Conservative Group Seeks Book Ban Over LGBTQ+ Content in Douglas County Libraries
A conservative men’s group in Douglas County is seeking a ban on four books with LGBTQ+ themes in the local libraries. The group, known as Freedom Fathers, is led by Aaron Wood, a father of two. Wood believes that these books, including a children’s picture book titled The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish, promote a hypersexualized lifestyle to children, which he claims could have a damaging effect.
Wood argued that although these banned books are still available for purchase on platforms like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, he believes that libraries should set a higher standard and take measures to ensure that children are not exposed to hypersexualized behavior.
However, members of the LGBTQ+ community and local residents argue that banning these books directly targets individuals with different gender identities and sexual orientations. They also state that such a ban would violate the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech and expression.
The Douglas County Libraries Board of Trustees is set to consider Wood’s challenges at its meeting on Wednesday. However, Wood’s previous attempts to have the books removed have been unsuccessful, with library officials denying his requests. The executive director of the library system, Bob Pasicznyuk, has recommended that the board vote in favor of retaining the books, stating that they do not require warning labels or relocation within the library branches.
Book bans targeting LGBTQ+ content are becoming increasingly prevalent across the United States. In 2022, the American Library Association reported a doubling in the number of book challenges at American libraries compared to the previous year, with a total of 1,269 challenges filed. These challenges are often initiated by organized censorship groups aiming to suppress the voices of marginalized communities.
Along with the drag queen picture book, the other books to be challenged include Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) by L.C. Rosen, This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson, and All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson. Wood’s opposition to these books is based on their LGBTQ+ content and what he refers to as gender ideology.
In response to Wood’s challenges, library officials have conducted checks with other library systems in Colorado to assess the demand and popularity of these books, discovering that they are in circulation and frequently checked out in multiple libraries.
In a letter to Wood, the executive director cited U.S. Supreme Court cases that have established precedents against banning books from libraries. The decision to deny the challenges was not based on any moral stance, but rather on the principle that customer use is the determining factor of a book’s value in the library’s collection.
The decision on whether to override the library officials’ recommendations and retain the books will be made at the upcoming board meeting. The meeting is expected to attract a large audience, with supporters and opponents of the book ban expressing their views.
As the debate unfolds, community members are hopeful that free speech will prevail and that the books will be retained in the libraries, ensuring that diverse voices and perspectives remain accessible to all readers.
