Dem
51
GOP
49
We had a number of candidates for this slot, but since we had the item "Public Libraries Are the Next Battleground" yesterday, we decided to go with this news story sent in by reader N.R. in Wellesley, MA.
The story involves one of the places in California that annoy (Z) the most, namely Rancho Peñasquitos. There are many places in California that have managed to retain their name from the Californio period, like Rancho Palos Verdes, Rancho Santa Margarita and Rancho Cucamonga. However, Rancho Peñasquitos got its name about 25 years ago from the developers who built up the community, because they hoped it would make the rich white people living there feel "cultured." Yuck.
During Pride month, the Rancho Peñasquitos Library put together a display of LGBTQ-themed children's books. Some locals decided those books weren't appropriate for children, despite the fact that it's a rare child these days who doesn't know that sometimes Terry has two mommies and sometimes Pat has two daddies. Since Pride month was going to draw to a close before the anti-LGBTQ patrons would be able to take administrative action (say, making a stink at the next library council meeting), the patrons decided instead to check out all the books in the display. In that way, they could effectively censor the library.
It did not work, of course, or we would not be writing this item. To start, libraries across San Diego dipped into their repositories and replenished their sister library's supply of books (and then some). Strike one. In addition, patrons who heard about what was going on and did not like it donated more than $15,000 to the library for LGBTQ books and programming, a sum that was matched by the city. That money will be used not only for more LGBTQ-themed books, but also for drag-queen story hours. Strike two. Finally, the people who checked out the "dangerous" books have since returned them. Strike three, and you're out.
As we have noted repeatedly, we largely don't approve of book bans. If you don't like LGBTQ-themed books, don't read them. If you don't want your kids reading those books, tell them not to read them. If they choose to ignore you, that's a you problem, not a library problem. So, we must admit to some fair amount of schadenfreude when these Karens and Kens get outmaneuvered, particularly when they live in Rancho Poseursquitos. (Z)