Obama commends librarians supporting children’s access to diverse literature, addressing concerns over parental restrictions.
Obama Praises Librarians for Pushing LGBT-Themed Books on Children
Former President Barack Obama praised librarians on Monday for their efforts in promoting LGBT-themed books to children. However, he failed to acknowledge the sexually explicit content contained in some of these books.
Today, some of the books that shaped my life—and the lives of so many others—are being challenged by people who disagree with certain ideas or perspectives. And librarians are on the front lines, fighting every day to make the widest possible range of viewpoints, opinions, and… pic.twitter.com/txhCTfH3Gh
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 17, 2023
In a letter sent out on Monday, Obama criticized the “book bans” that have been implemented in school libraries across the U.S. due to parental concerns about explicit content. He argued that these bans specifically target LGBT individuals, indigenous people, and racial minorities.
Obama stated, “Today, some of the books that shaped my life — and the lives of so many others — are being challenged by people who disagree with certain ideas or perspectives.” He further added, “It’s no coincidence that these ’banned books’ are often written by or feature people of color, indigenous people, and members of the LGBTQ+ community — though there have been unfortunate instances in which books by conservative authors or books containing ‘triggering’ words or scenes have been targets of removal.”
According to PEN America, over 1,600 books were banned from school libraries during the 2021-2022 school year. Additionally, The Washington Post reported that 19 states have introduced legislation that could lead to the imprisonment of librarians for providing sexually explicit books to minors.
Obama expressed his gratitude towards librarians for their dedication in providing children access to these books. He acknowledged their role in ensuring a wide range of viewpoints, opinions, and ideas are available to everyone. He also highlighted the irony of Christians calling for bans on sexually explicit books.
Despite their important role, librarians often face attacks from those who fail to understand their vital contribution to society. Obama acknowledged the challenging political climate in which librarians operate and commended their professionalism and expertise.
Instances of sexually explicit books being banned from school libraries have been reported in Florida and Virginia. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis even read inappropriate excerpts from one such book during a press conference. These books, such as “Gender Queer” and “Flamed,” contain explicit content involving sexual activities.
BREAKING: Parents in Dearborn, Michigan, are revolting against pornographic books in school libraries.
A mom reads a passage from the book “Flamed”: “We’re each bustin’ a load in this bottle. If you don’t cum, you have to drink it.”pic.twitter.com/2KJGPTjpHZ
— Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) November 15, 2022
In Dearborn, Michigan, Muslim parents fought against a public school for providing access to LGBT-themed books. These incidents highlight the ongoing debate surrounding the presence of explicit content in school libraries.
Overall, Obama’s praise for librarians emphasizes their crucial role in promoting diverse perspectives and ideas, but it also raises questions about the appropriateness of sexually explicit content in books targeted at children.
The post Obama Heaps Praise on Librarians Who Push Porn on Kids in Criticism of Parental ‘Book Bans’ appeared first on The Western Journal.
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