is it right to censor gay-themed books from our libraries?
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6403256.html
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Is It Definitley Censorship?Promotion is not the issue EB. If the issue was about how these books are being promoted instead of hetero -relation books (fat chance) then I would have a problem with that. However it remains to be seen if they are actively censoring books themed on bi/homosexuality or rather that demand for such books is low in Arkansas. If such a censorship (seems likely given the circumstances) is taking place then I totally disagree with such a practice.50% Voted for by petethemeat, Weydon, looking4realtruth.
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They are being stolen, not censoredYoung Arkansa boys (and politicians) steal them from the libraries so they have gay material to masturbate to when they get home.Voted for by Brew Kline.
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Kazrith
January 18, 2007
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would you read a book you do not know exists?
Weydon
January 18, 2007
How big are these libraries? I have some big ones in my area, but I also have fairly desolate ones with more movie selections than books it seems. To be honest I wouldn't even know if the better libraries have homosexual themed books. I've never read one centered around it, though I've come across enough that have it in passing.
If a large number of backwater libraries have brittle and dusty books from the 50's plus Harry Potter, I wouldn't put them at fault for not having a wide selection. Even if it was a fairly well off area and the library is still limited in size, I agree with pete about the demand issue. Libraries are notorious (at least in America) for having pathetic budgets and lack of interest. Do they really need to cut back costs and size of other departments to put up homosexual-themed books that no one out there would likely pick up? Even I myself wouldn't be interested in reading a gay themed book unless, like all books, I've heard great things about the other elements or it was by an author I liked.
Could you give me an example of what exactly is happening? Are they REFUSING supplies of books containing studies on homosexuality? Or characters that are gay?
Even as I'm trying to imagine the examples, I realize I have read a few "gay-themed" books by David Sedaris, which were actually very good. Homosexuality wasn't neccessarily the theme, but the main character (sometimes stories of the author himself) was often gay, sometimes the ostracization from it a theme.
Anyways, I don't really know how to regulate it. Are these libraries accepting whole lot of new crap and refusing ALL homosexual-related books? Or do they have slim pickings as it is?
Kazrith
January 19, 2007
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most of the time kids dont even bother checking them out because they dont want to be seen with a gay book in their library rental record, let alone in their hands. they resort to reading it only in the bathroom or only when they are completely alone and then they still feel ashamed that they are reading them. not because of the content but because they have to hide themselves from the world (world being everyone the care about) because they fear rejection.
these books mean so much more to gay teenagers simply because they make them feel excepted, they make them want to be loved by someone like them, just like the characters in the books.
In a place like arkansas, these books would be more needed than they were in my home town because of all of the anti-homosexual antics.
Appearently none of you have read Brent hartinger's book the geography club, let alone many of the other books [ie. alex sanchez's rainbow boys or david levithan's boy meets boy (okay, i havent read the last three but the first one was amazing!)].
these books are not just books for gay kids to read (and, as one person said, jack off to), they are one of the few annymonous lifelines out there for kids to hold on too and not only keep their lives on track, but to just figure out what it means to be homosexual/bisexual, which is not what the stereotypes tell us.
Weydon
January 19, 2007
The only thing I can suggest is annymous polls on what books would be taken out more and why.
Kazrith
January 19, 2007
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Weydon
January 19, 2007
Kazrith
January 19, 2007
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Weydon
January 20, 2007
Kazrith
January 20, 2007
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bob2314
January 20, 2007
Kazrith
February 17, 2007
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