Alabama pushes two bills to restrict what’s in the library: ‘It’s creating a nanny state.’

[Della]

"The bill prohibits materials including sexual intercourse, bestiality, masturbation, defecation and “lewd exhibition of the genitals.” It also includes language focusing on drag performances around minors, including: “Persons who are dressed in sexually revealing, exaggerated, or provocative clothing or costumes, or are stripping, or engaged in lewd or lascivious dancing, presentations, or activities.”

In addition to books, the bill lists a range of library materials, including digital materials, audio and visual materials. The bill excludes college and university libraries.

But a second bill, HB425, just filed in the state legislature would extend library restrictions to university libraries and would also prevent libraries in the state from joining the American Library Association."

https://www.al.com/news/2024/04/alabama ... state.html

[MonarchMom]

Sometimes it seems like the country is in a race to the bottom intellectually.

[Aletheia]

I wondered how they intended to avoid the Bible getting banned, so I read the actual bill. The escape clause seems to be this bit:

• a. The average person, applying contemporary community
  standards, would find that the material, taken as a whole,
  appeals to the prurient interest of minors; and.

• b. The material depicts or describes sexual conduct,
  breast nudity, or genital nudity, in a way which is patently
  offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community with
  respect to what is suitable for minors; and.

• c. A reasonable person would find that the material,
  taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political,
  or scientific value for minors.

https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/ ... 85-int.pdf

[WellPreserved]

It's effectively progressing to the goal of privatized education and an effort to segregate students.

[WellPreserved]

My county recently suspended a One Division, One Book community reading of the book "Wishtree" because a parent from outside the county complained about the red oak in the book not using gendered pronouns. She claims it's "indoctrination of children into transgender lifestyle". <sigh> I really do worry about the education of children in conservative states and districts.

[MonarchMom]

It's effectively progressing to the goal of privatized education and an effort to segregate students.

I think you are right that the goal is to tear down public education and erode support for public schools. This would enable public funds to be channeled into private and religious schools under the guise of "choice."

[Della]

It's effectively progressing to the goal of privatized education and an effort to segregate students.

I think you are right that the goal is to tear down public education and erode support for public schools. This would enable public funds to be channeled into private and religious schools under the guise of "choice."

At this point, I believe they are moving towards changing public schools to Christian schools. No new infrastructure needed.

[jessilin0113]

My county recently suspended a One Division, One Book community reading of the book "Wishtree" because a parent from outside the county complained about the red oak in the book not using gendered pronouns. She claims it's "indoctrination of children into transgender lifestyle". <sigh> I really do worry about the education of children in conservative states and districts.

Just to be clear, a parent was mad that a tree wasn't gendered??

[Slimshandy]

I’m pretty ok with needing parental permission to give kids books about beastiality.

[WellPreserved]

My county recently suspended a One Division, One Book community reading of the book "Wishtree" because a parent from outside the county complained about the red oak in the book not using gendered pronouns. She claims it's "indoctrination of children into transgender lifestyle". <sigh> I really do worry about the education of children in conservative states and districts.

Just to be clear, a parent was mad that a tree wasn't gendered??

Damn those monoecious trees. The line in the book that caused the parent's ire was " “Call me she. Call me he. Anything will work.” The parent claimed that "Wishtree's" nonbinary account of the oak's identity, was "indoctrination at its finest." The three conservative Christians on our school board agreed with her and the book was removed and the community reading was suspended.

AND get this. April is when all our county non-profit groups ask for money from the county budget. The board of supervisors is contemplating not funding those non-profits who didn't cancel their coinciding events with the reading of "Wishtree" (our county theater, arts center, and library). At the same time our town council (more liberal and reasonable) are working on re-structuring their budget to accommodate giving to these non-profits. <sigh>

School board meeting tonight and the author of "Wishtree" will be present so should be interesting!