Image: Kingsport Public Library, Sullivan County, TN Image Credit: J. Stephen Conn / CC
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
The Kingsport Library Commission defended a book that provides explicit details of various sexual acts as “sex ed” after a local grandmother requested the book be removed from the collection or moved to the adult section of the library.
While visiting the youth section – for children under 13 – at the Kingsport Library in July with her preschool aged grandchildren, the local grandmother found a book that prompted her to fill out a reconsideration form. According to the concerned Kingsport resident, “Here and Queer: A Queer Girl’s Guide to Life” has “very explicit sexual details of various sexual acts” that a ten-year-old could read and understand.
A month and a half later, a library commission meeting was held to specifically discuss the book. According to the grandmother who attended the meeting, one other person who supported the book also attended who opposed any removal whatsoever and who stated that it would be “ludicrous” to remove it.
In the time between the reconsideration request being filed and the library commission meeting, the book was moved to the teen section of the library meant for high school students.
“Although it was moved, teens are still minors until they turn 18, when they can vote and serve. So, is it acceptable for a teen to read about pornography? What do I mean by this? This book has specific details on what oral sex is, digital penetration, penetrative anal sex, muffing etc.” stated the Kingsport resident. “It describes having sex for the first time as no big deal and these are the hand signals that can be used to continue. ‘Here and Queer’”’ provides phone numbers, emails and other books you can read to further your Queer girl journey. Is this sex ed? The library commission seem to think so.”
Public libraries have many questions that need to be answered when evaluating a book up for reconsideration. What is a minor? What does a minor have a right to see, view, read or listen to while in a public setting such as a public library?
According to the Kingsport Library Commission, that is the responsibility of parents and/or guardians. But does the public library also share in that responsibility? Do libraries have a moral duty to protect minors from harmful books that are age inappropriate? When a minor picks up a book, such as “Here and Queer” and reads about sexual acts in detail, can this be considered grooming?
“Wouldn’t this potentially make a child curious?” asked the Kingsport grandmother. “Wouldn’t reading material such as this open a child’s eyes to knowledge they are too young to comprehend or didn’t even know about? Wouldn’t this make a child more susceptible to potential sexual advances from adults or other minors?”
The library commission voted unanimously to keep the book in the teen section. Five of the commission members stated that they read the book. The head librarian stated the book has only been taken out twice, since it was gifted to the library in August 2022.
“I feel the library commission failed as a board in protecting children,” said the Kingsport grandmother.
She said that one of the commission members, a former Texas Librarian Director stated that he “felt the book as per school library review, was very appropriately put in grade 9 and up. This library put the book in the right age.”
The head librarian and other library commission members mentioned that the book is about sex education and it is their duty to provide a widely balanced array of books.
“This particular book does bring up STDs and yes even queer girls can get it,” stated the grandmother.
“If I want this book removed or moved to the adult section, is this censorship? Or is it, that I am speaking up for innocent children that don’t need to be subjected to sexualization, to pornography at least not as a minor in a public library,” the grandmother stated. “If you feel as I do, if you care, please let your legislature know you support a future bill protecting minors from pornography in any form in a public library.”
After a conversation she had with a State Senator in which she requested that legislation be created that would protect minors from sexualized material in public facilities, the Kingsport resident stated that he has said he will be working with a State Representative to work towards a bill that will provide greater protection for children.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
10 Responses
Vote them out and fire them.
If they say “No books should be banned.” say > “Would allow books that teach kids to be racists? I’m opposed to that.” The Leftists must be removed from library positions.
We’ve had a similar situation in Maury County. Our library board also voted unanimously to keep a book titled “All Boys Aren’t Blue” in the young adult section (age thirteen and up). However, we took the book to our county mayor who showed it to our county district attorney. He said that Tennessee already has an obscenity law that defines the terms minor and obscenity. Library boards could be held liable as a group and as individuals for allowing obscene material to be available for minors. He wrote a letter to the board and the book was de-circulated. Ironically, the book had only been checked out a couple of times and only by members of our concerned citizen group. (I had the book in my possession for most of the summer.) Our group is now in the process of recruiting candidates to apply for positions on the library board as terms expire. We are also writing reviews for many other objectionable books, most of which were purchase in 2020.
This is pro-active, Well done.
Yup, lucifer’s dimmercrap Kingsport Library Commission.
Stupid “Lucifer” comments help nothing.
It is a Brain Function that the first time
explicit sexual material, graphics or words, are introduced to a child’s sensory
system new neurological pathways are established that can NEVER BE ERASED.
This is a violation of innocence and purity of heart and mind. A CHILD KNOWS this is contrary and it fills them with guilt and burdens their souls. We all know this is WRONG and to defend this deliberate placing of lewd material in a public library is a Travesty. Shame on this library committee. We want the highest Value System possible presented to our CHILDREN and students in this wonderful community.
The Devil himself is in the Kingsport Library ,
The City manager of Kingsport needs to have a session with the Kingsport Attorney and fire the Librarian . That’s what I would do if was the City Manager .
Obviously the Library oversight committee , if they have one , needs some very legalistic training as to what Lucifer is up to and no one gets hired as Librarian unless they are trained on this Marxist playbook .
After that let the firings and legal cases begin against those that don’t follow the law .
If they are elected officials, out them by name and publicize for voters to see what their elected officials are doing. If they are appointed, out the public officials responsible for appointing them. And for God’s sake people obey God’s command to choose Godly men to lead over us! Which is where a lot of the problem lies. By not fulfilling our responsibility in choosing who leads over us! For the sake of our children and grandchildren’s future.
“Evil can only flourish when good men do nothing!”
$1,000.00
To any Tennessee parent group that files suit against local school board members, principal & librarians
Such a book belongs in the adult section. Young people can use advise on safety matters, but that book is beyond the relm of education. It is advocating a particular sexual deviance.
This problem requires more than some coward politicians to remedy. If you see the book in the children’s section, destroy it. Rip out the pages, render them unreadable and throw it in the trash.
The time for politicians and law has past. The legal system is corrupt. Ignore it. Act individually.