NJ Library Removes LGBT Book After Complaint From Member Of Glenn Beck's 9/12 Movement

[meegbear]

A public library in Burlington County, New Jersey has ordered all of the copies of "Revolutionary Voices: A Multicultural Queer Youth Anthology" removed from circulation, after a member of Glenn Beck's 9/12 Project complained about the book's content.

The library cited "child pornography" as its reason for removing the book.

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) describes "Revolutionary Voices," edited by Amy Sonnie, as "the first creative resource by and for queer and questioning youth of every color, class, religion, gender and ability." It features first-hand coming-out accounts from gay students, and "reflections on identity," according to the <http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/home/886066-312/nj_library_citing_child_pornography.html.csp|School Library Journal>. It was also named as one of the best adult books for high school students by the Journal in 2001.

But, according to Beverly Marinelli, a member of the 9/12 Project in Burlington County, the content is much more sinister than that. In an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Marinelli called it "pervasively vulgar, obscene, and inappropriate." Marinelli maintained she's "not a homophobe," but called a drawing of Boy Scouts watching two men have sex, "the worst."

The ACLU-NJ obtained emails through a Freedom of Information Act request that reveal that Marinelli met with Gail Sweet, the library's director, in April. Following their meeting, Sweet arranged for the Library Commission to discuss the book's removal that month.

The Commission ultimately supported the decision to remove "Revolutionary Voices" from circulation, though "no official challenge" was made, and "no actual vote by the commissioners" was taken, according to Sweet's emails. The reasoning was that the book constituted "child pornography."

In an email to the library's circulation coordinator, Sweet asked: "How can we grab the books so that they never, ever get back into ccirculation (sic). Copies need to totally disappear (as in not a good idea to send copies to the book sale)."

Sweet responded to TPM's request for comment with a brief, "Thank you for your interest but I do not have any comments to make."

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http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/nj_public_library_removes_lgbt_book_after_request.php?ref=fpb

[marmar]

1. This kind of sh*t burns me up.....

:argh:

[BrklynLiberal]

2. One can safely assume that we will be burning witches at the stake here in the US very shortly.

This is horrifying and disgusting.

[Initech]

3. We should never, ever listen to Glenn Beck fans.

[Cronus Protagonist]

4. I'm going to order it from Amazon.com when it becomes available

After I've read it, I'm going to donate it to the local library.