Wasilla city officials heard public testimony Monday night about a library book that is concerning some parents. The book, “This Book is Gay” was written by a U.K. author, James Dawson, and some parents say it is not appropriate content for the library’s young readers. The dispute started earlier this month. When one mother noticed her 10-year-old with a copy of This Book is Gay in his hand, she was shocked. Vanessa Campbell told the Frontiersman newspaper the book contained graphic sexual descriptions, and has no place in the library’s juvenile nonfiction section.
This Book is Gay is written for young readers, or any readers, grappling with questions about homosexuality. It’s tone is humorous, and it contains cartoons, but some of the content explains sexual practices, and that is what concerns some Wasilla parents.
Campbell complained to library director K.J. Martin-Albright, but Martin-Albright, after review, decided not to move the book to another library area.
Campbell filed for reconsideration, a rarely used process, to get a change in what section of the library the book will be shelved. David Cheezum, owner of Palmer’s Fireside Books, is on the committee that will make that decision.
One local Wasilla resident had this to say about he book:
“It is straight-up pedophile kind of behavior.”
Ah, the old "homosexuality equals pedophilia" canard. Gee that never gets old.
Well I am sure that Sarah Palin could not be more proud of her fellow Wasillians. Especially since she targeted the book "Pastor, I am gay" written by Reverend Howard Bess back when she was the mayor of the glorified bait and tackle shop.
Does Sarah Palin have any concerns about Bristol Palin's relationship with Marina Lupas?
ReplyDeleteAt least Marina wouldn't get Barstool knocked up with another disappointing abstinence baby.
DeleteAnd yet puritanical Wasilla erects (sic) a monument to the Palin women (any of 'em, all of 'em).
ReplyDeletehttp://619design.com/wasilla-high-school-sculpture-looks-like-vagina/
http://619design.com/wasilla-high-school-sculpture-looks-like-vagina/
DeleteLooks more vulviform (like a vulva) to me—not tubular. The people at six-one-nine either lack anatomical knowledge, or are choosing to echo other people's lack.
I'm shocked! Shocked, I say! That they could ever allow such a book in the Wasillabilly library to begin with. In Dominionist/Talibangelical land?
ReplyDeleteFor those who don't get sarcasm, this is what it looks like.
Some in Wasilla don't need books, they just teach their daughters they're sitting on a gold mine.
ReplyDeleteThings are spinning out of control....
ReplyDeleteDonald Trump Wants Americans to Denounce their Neighbors, Gestapo-Style
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/11/27/donald-trump-americans-denounce-neighbors-gestapo-style.html
Republicans Hypocritically Call out Trump’s Fascist ‘Spy on Your Neighbor’ Proposals
http://www.politicususa.com/2015/11/27/republicans-hypocritically-trumps-fascist-proposals.html
This entire episode began because the book, which describes anal sex in extreme detail, was in the younger kids section of the library, when the book itself states that it is for high school aged children and older. The initial complaint from a parent was not for the book to be removed but to be put into a young adult section for the appropriate age group, ages 14+ who may be already sexually active and have an understanding of sexual activity in general.
ReplyDeleteThe fundies got ahold of this info and then had to launch into their book-banning nonsense. I understand the initial complaint based upon a very young kid, who may not have had any sexual information yet, reading this book and learning about the best lubes and how anal sex can hurt but still be fun (a chapter discusses that process using those words) and that child being very confused about sex in general and not being prepared to understand the nature of human sexuality.
I hope that the board finds that the book should be replaced in a section for more appropriate ages and not removed from the library, but once those bible-thumpers get their claws into issue things become messy. We shall see, I hope saner minds prevail.
Hearing the clarification on what's going on--moving it to the appropriate age section is reasonable. Maybe the library can find something more age appropriate for the smaller kids
DeleteIf parents think their 5th graders have no sexual identity or curiosity, they better get wise quick.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read the book so can't judge on age appropriateness, but it sounds like it is written for the exact age where it is placed. As to the contents, well, children start to question their sexual orientation as young as this. They also start to taunt, tease and bully those who are "different" in any way. Taller, shorter, genius, struggling, fat, many physical challenges and yes, sexual orientation.
Surprisingly the only children I observed that didn't get bullied where those in wheelchairs, amputees, etc.
They'll accept the child with M.S. but relentlessly tease one with a lisp.
Children can be cruel. They learn it from their parents.
Parents who try to ban books.
If Campbell doesn't want her son to read it, then she should tell him he isn't allowed. Family rule. But she has no right to deny someone else's child the right to read it.
BTW if her son is reading that book, there is a reason. And she needs to have a long talk about why he chose that book and why he is reading it.
http://www.frontiersman.com/news/controversy-brewing-over-gay-sex-ed-book-at-wasilla-library/article_03db473a-90af-11e5-947b-47be66ddd523.html
DeleteThis is a link to the original article and details from the chapter about the physical nature of having successful anal sex.
I personally see this as a book more tailored to kids who are already having sex, and these days that's usually around 13-14 years old, but I think 10 year olds need to learn some of the basics from the parents before reading more detailed info about the different methods of pleasure/pain/penetration.
As a woman I know that I didn't advance to anal play or penetration until I was around 17, having been sexually active since age 14 with the knowledge of my parents who provided birth control support.
I do hear you though and if that 10 year old knows he is gay and is ready to play it would be better for him to have access to an instruction manual but regardless of sexual orientation, we find out a lot by experimenting at that age, alone or with others, and sooner or later he'd find out what it is he's seeking sexually and figure out how to do sex, with whomever he desires. I still think the book should be placed where a little bit older kids would utilize it rather than curious grade-schoolers.
As a woman, I simply cannot see any pleasure in anal sex. And yes, I have tried it. What a scam.
Delete2:30
DeleteThat would put it in a middle school library as it is grades 6-8.
Would depend how a public library is sectioned off. Some can't have a children's section and then a juvenile section and then a teens section and then a young adult section. They just don't have the space.
It is unfortunate the the envelope is being pushed to lower and lower grades and younger and younger children. By the media, peer pressure and wanting to emulate their older siblings and their friends.
If a 4th grader can get pregnant then it's appropriate they have access to information if they are already exploring. It's not a comfortable subject for adults but would you want them to fly blind and possibly have to live with the consequences for the rest of their lives?
No matter where they put it, if a 10 year old wants it he'll find it. Librarians do not bar patrons from different sections of the library, nor do they censure what they can check out. If the book is on the shelf, it's free game. So the 10 year old can go to the Teen section, find this book and check it out. And if he does, he'll tell all his buddies where he found it.
Good for the librarian for standing her ground. There are so many children's books out there about same sex parents, homosexuality, dealing with people who seem different, etc. I'll never forget going into Border's books (now defunct) and seeing a wide variety of topics kids today need to learn about. They even have books explaining loss and feelings of grief. I put them on my kid's school library list and no one batted an eyelash. The only thing that kind of upset me was a section of books under the heading of "Alternative lifestyles". To me, LGBT isn't "Lifestyle" nor something you choose. It's just another facet of being fully human.
ReplyDeleteIf Wasilla REALLY wants to open a discussion about perversity, they should ban Bristol's book. She lies, she lies, she lies, and she's a hypocrite accusing someone of rape while holding herself to a higher level of morality by being pregnant out of wedlock.while preaching purity and abstinence.
Those Wasilla girls sure know how to have fun. Is this the way Track likes it?
ReplyDelete�� @wbf_
https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xap1/t51.2885-15/s640x640/sh0.08/e35/12276772_194226467580642_784906033_n.jpg
5 Aug 2015 the two sweetest faces to wake up to
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