Father Slammed for Not Wanting Son Exposed to LGBTQ Books

Parenting methods can vary from person to person, with individuals adopting different techniques that they believe are best for their children. For instance, there was one man who believed that it was in the best interest of his son not to be gay, and therefore, he employed the approach of not getting his son “exposed” to LGBTQ+ books.

Should Young Minds Encounter Explicit Depictions in Books?

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Many people passionately advocate for children to have access to books that depict and describe intimate acts between people, sometimes in explicit detail. However, there are also those who firmly believe that introducing explicit depictions of these acts to young children can have a negative effect on their development and can potentially lead to adverse consequences as they mature.

This debate raises the question of whether children should be allowed to read whatever they want or if certain restrictions should be imposed. The discussion was sparked following a video posted on Twitter, in which a father expressed his strong opposition to his son reading LGBTQ+ books.

Father's Concerns About Exposing Son to Different Orientations

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In a Twitter post capturing what seems to be a communal gathering, one father says that he doesn't want his son to be "exposed to other s.xual orientations."

Within the crowd, a man suggests that certain books with a distinct agenda are being employed to "propagandize" the acceptance of diverse orientations. Evidently, his voice is accelerated and certain portions of his speech have been edited.

Challenging the Idea of a Perfectly Kid-Friendly Library

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Following this, a retired librarian steps forward to address the man at the front of the room, expressing that it is inevitable for a library to house a significant number of books at any given moment that may contain material unsuitable for kids.

The 20% Rule

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The woman further asserts that representing “all people” is a must, suggesting that "at least 20%" of books in a library should consist of literature that may not appeal to everyone. According to her, this perspective forms the very foundation of freedom of speech.

Personal Views vs Library Inclusion

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The retired librarian also says that there exist books in her library that she personally would never consider suitable for children to read. However, she stresses that this does not mean that such books shouldn’t be included in the library's collection.

Could Librarians Face Jail Time for Book Borrowing?

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She then proceeds to raise a thought-provoking question regarding the potential consequences for librarians if a kid chooses to borrow a book, “Go to jail?" 

Continuing her argument, the woman asserts that librarians are currently confronted with the possibility of facing such consequences if the proposed laws come into effect.

Legislation Looming

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She is referring to vetoed legislations and upcoming bills in several states, which, if passed, would potentially subject librarians to severe penalties in the event that children are exposed to books containing material not suitable for their age. 

Librarians at Risk

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In a hypothetical scenario where one of these bills is passed in a specific jurisdiction, this will allow minors to potentially borrow a book, such as Stephen King's IT, and experience the chilling narrative of a clown preying on young children.

As a consequence, the librarian who granted permission for the child to borrow the book may potentially face criminal prosecution.

Potential Implications for Schools & Public Libraries 

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The Arkansas Advocate cited Senate Bill 81 as an example of such a proposition. According to the outlet, this bill  "would remove schools and public libraries from the part of Arkansas state code that currently exempts them from prosecution 'for disseminating a writing, film, slide, drawing, or other visual reproduction that is claimed to be obscene' under existing obscenity laws."

Class D Felony and Class A Misdemeanor

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The article further states: "Employees of public or school libraries that 'knowingly' distribute obscene material or inform others of how to obtain it would risk conviction for a Class D felony. Knowingly possessing obscene material would risk conviction of a Class A misdemeanor."

Viewers Rally Behind Librarian's Fearless Reaction

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Several Twitter users who watched the video commended the Librarian's reaction to the man, with one person expressing their support by saying: "I worked as a library aide during high school. Librarians will go toe to toe with anyone. They are fierce."

Lack of Understanding of Basic Life Principles

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Another commenter expressed disbelief at the apparent difficulty some people have in understanding simple life concepts. They wrote, “I thought this was how we all lived life…”

“If you don't want to read something then don't read something, don't check out that book. It's a pretty simple idea and I'm amazed that people on the right can't seem to grasp such a simple thing…”

“Why Isn't Everyone Straight?”

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"If s.xual orientation was determined by reading books, watching TV, and being in society in general then why isn't everyone straight?” one user questioned, implying that the availability of LGBTQ books won’t necessarily change someone’s orientation. 

They continued, “Bc f.ck, if everything doesn't show us, straight people, 24-7, 365. ALL of the time. Everywhere. All day. Every day."

Personal Responsibility Is Key

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In response to the library controversy, another Twitter user shared that they have books authored by Newt Gingrich in their local library. Despite their personal disagreement with the author, they expressed a more understanding approach, stating:

“Would I want my kids reading that trash? No. Am I ranting at the librarian about it? No. Just because it's publicly available doesn't mean you have to read it. If you don't want your kids reading stuff, then take it away."

Freedom of Choice

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“You check out what YOU want to check out,” stated one user.

“If only ALL of these Conservatives would listen to these words. If you don't want to read those books or have your kid read them, be a GD parent and tell them no. If you don't want to buy pride gear, DON’T BUY IT.”

The Takeaway 

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Ultimately, regardless of whether one agrees that kids should be allowed the freedom to read the most vivid and detailed books or should be subjected to restrictions,  it is important to recognize that every parent holds their own teaching methods that they consider the best for their children. 

However, parents should forget that the material kids consume through reading can have a significant impact on their development, whether it manifests in positive or negative ways.

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