Lincolnwood Public Library declines to remove books with LGBTQ content from children’s collection

https://abc7chicago.com/lincolnwood-library-childrens-books-il-news/12504956/

Yes the left is starting to fight back instead of giving in to the attempt by the religious right to erase those they don’t like or agree with from society.   Also people are seeing through the fake claim that they are just trying to protect children from being sexualized.  They don’t want to just mold their children, they want the right to mold your child in their image.  They are demanding the right to take away your parental rights to raise your child, even as they are demanding more and more rights for themselves to dictate what children are taught.   Be clear this is about removing any reference to the LGBTQ+ from first schools and then all of society.   They are already moved on to banning drag, which in their written laws means wearing the clothing normally associated with a gender not assigned at birth in public.  Why?  It doesn’t sexualize kids if a man wears a nice skirt, but it does challenge the strict gender norms these fundamentalist are trying to return all the country to.  These fundamentalist religious groups got a huge head start on their attempt to outlaw even the mention of what they don’t agree with, they pushed a false narrative on the public that many have bought into because they were not hearing the other side.  Now we who are on the side of progress and advancement need to make sure people get the full story and real goals of these people.  We have our work cut out for us, but to save the present and build the future we have to fight back.  For the sake of the gay, lesbian, trans, and all the other non-cis and non-binary kids we must fight and win the right for them to see positive role models and see themselves represented in books and movies.  We must grant these LGBTQ+ children the safety and security that we should give all children.   Hugs

https://abc7chicago.com/lincolnwood-library-childrens-books-il-news/12504956/

https://abc7chicago.com/video/embed/12505241

A standing room-only crowd gathered at the Lincolnwood Village Hall Monday for a heated debate about a book with LGBTQ+ content on the public library’s children’s collection.

The monthly library board meeting was moved from the library to the village hall to accommodate a large turnout after last month’s meeting got heated and ended early with police being called.

Once again, library board members and the public came face to face.

“The library has decided that they, not you the parent, knows what is best for your child,” said Bryan Johnson, Lincolnwood resident.

“Gay people and drag queens have a right to exist and be themselves and have books written about them,” said Jen Mierisch, Lincolnwood resident.

At the board meeting, some attendees voice objections to certain titles with LGBTQ+ themes that are part of the library’s children’s collection. At least one formal challenge was filed against a book called “The Hips On The Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish.”

The nursery rhyme book features characters in drag, and was read aloud during a library-sponsored story time over the summer.

“I’m not here to ask for a ban on any books,” said resident Rahila Siddiqui. “I’m here to fight for my right to choose when my elementary school children should be exposed to complicated topics like drag queens.”

“If parents prefer their children not read a book, that’s their decision. But that does not give them the right to impose their short-sighted beliefs on anyone else’s children,” said Susan Ginsburg, Lincolnwood resident.

After reviewing the book, library officials declined to remove it from the children’s department. The library director told ABC7 such action would constitute censorship, adding, “Our goal is to respect everyone in our community and what they want to read.”

“When you’re at Macy’s and you don’t like a purple shirt, you can’t demand that they take it away. Just don’t buy it,” said Judy Abelson, Lincolnwood resident.

Library officials said they also declined a patron’s request to remove another book that some consider anti-transgender. That patron has now dropped that formal challenge on censorship grounds.