Established by the American Library Association in 1982, Banned Books Week begins every year on the last week of September. The week celebrates books that have been censored or outright banned over the years and reminds us of the importance of information and freedom of speech, as well as showing us how books can be used tackle difficult or sensitive topics and themes.
To celebrate the week, a library in Rumford, Maine created a display featuring books that have, and continue to be, banned in various parts of the world. As you can imagine, books focusing on the topic of same-sex relationships are heavily censored, and thus the display featured several LGBT books such as Kabi Nagata’s My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness and David Lev’s Two Boys Kissing. Both books have been released to great acclaim from critics but also face heavy resistance, with Two Boys Kissing being the fifth most banned book of 2016.
As Pink News reports, the display has caught the ire of several conservative church leaders who wrote a letter to the library, accusing it of “promoting homosexuality.” Other books on display included The Color Purple and the children’s book And Tango Makes Three, a book based upon the true story of a same-sex penguin couple.
The letter stated that the books would have “until recently been considered not only inappropriate but the abuse of children” and are “not appropriate for a public area where children are present.” The letter adds: “The library should not be promoting a far left political view that sees homosexuality as acceptable,” and suggested the display was disrespectful towards people with “a conservative and traditional view that sees homosexuality as wrong and to be avoided.”
The letter was signed by three pastors; Dan Pearson of Rumsford Baptist Church, Justin Thacker of Praise Assembly of God, and Nathan March of Parish of the Holy Saviour. The issue came to a climax on September 11, when a meeting of more than 70 people occurred at the library. Some were in support of the pastors, and library employee Mary Ann Fournier, who streamed the entire meeting, made a speech defending the display.
In her speech, Fournier said: “I’ve been coming to this library just about every day since I was five years old, and I now work here. Those complaining, you don’t come here. I don’t see you. This is the first time I’ve seen any of you show up to a meeting.
“Where were you when we were talking about what we’re going to do for the troubled kids that come here? Did you know that we feed these kids? We feed them breakfast, we feed them lunch, we feed them dinner, we keep them here all day. Do you know how many kids come in from school and say, ‘Mommy’s sleeping,’ so we keep them here and we watch them. [That’s what] the library does.”
Fournier continued to point out misleading and hypocritical claims that were being made.
“I’m getting frustrated. I’ve been yelled at for doing my job. The library code of ethics says we are not supposed to censor. This display, you’re all saying you don’t want it in the eyes of your children. But it’s upstairs in the adult section! If you come upstairs to the adult section and you have your child with you, it is up to you to watch what your child is doing.
“I’d like to point out, by the way Fifty Shades of Grey was on that banned book display, and I’ve heard nothing about it. I’ve heard nothing about the Harlequin Romance novels that have may more promiscuity than that lesbian book did. Right across from that book display is our large prints section, and on there is a straight couple naked and embracing. We all know what they’re going to do, but there’s no outrage in that.”
She added: “As part of the LGBT community, when you tell me my book belongs in the Dewey Decimal system, that makes me very upset and angry. I don’t want to hide. I hid for a long time, and I came out because of this. This is how it came out, and now I’m wondering what my father’s going to think when I go home.
“I do not want any child or teen in this community to feel the shame I have felt this past week.”
Fournier stated that LGBT books are essential for young queer teens, saying: “Some of these books are stolen by LGBT teens because they don’t want their parents to know they’re checking them out.”
Fournier’s speech was met with applause and the library’s trustees unanimously voted to leave the display intact.
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I wonder how the church leaders would react to someone coming into their church and telling them what they should and shouldn’t say in their sermons.