Senate Democrats decrying college boards and fogeys for censorship acquired greater than they bargained for when Sen. John Kennedy started studying aloud from a few the “banned books.”

“Let’s take two books that have been much discussed,” the Louisiana Republican mentioned Tuesday on the Senate Judiciary Committee listening to. “The first one is called All Boys Aren’t Blue.”

He learn a graphic scene about two boys having anal intercourse, then adopted up with a passage from the 2019 ebook Gender Queer about oral intercourse between two boys. PEN America listed the books as the 2 most banned books of the 2021-22 college yr.

After quizzing panelists on who ought to determine if the books needs to be out there to children, Mr. Kennedy declared that “none of you wants to come here and answer my question.”

“You come here and say censorship is bad, and of course it’s bad,” Mr. Kennedy mentioned. “But the obvious response is— you heard the books we’re talking about. We’re not talking about Catcher in the Rye. So tell me, who gets to decide? And all I’ve heard is the librarians. And parents have nothing to do with it. and if that’s your response, what planet did you just parachute in from?”

The listening to, “Book Bans: How Censorship Limits Liberty and Literature,” comes with PEN America and the American Library Association sounding the alarm on a spike in ebook challenges because the battle over censorship versus pornography performs out at school and public libraries.

“In 2022, there were over 1,000 requests to ban books at schools and libraries, the most in over 20 years,” mentioned Sen. Dick Durbin, Illinois Democrat, the committee chairman.

He mentioned the titles included classics comparable to Brave New World and To Kill a Mockingbird, in addition to “books that include LGBTQ+ subject matter.”

“One out of every four banned books features LGBTQ+ characters and themes, according to PEN America,” Mr. Durbin mentioned. “No one is advocating for sexually explicit content to be available at an elementary school library or the children’s section of the library. That’s a distraction from the real challenge.”

Max Eden, American Enterprise Institute analysis fellow, argued that “book ban” is a misnomer, saying that PEN America’s definition contains books which have been challenged, reviewed, and positioned again on library cabinets, or tagged with a parental-permission requirement.

“Careful analysis also belies the claims that books are being banned because of race or LGBT issues,” mentioned Mr. Eden. “Whereas PEN America labels the Black Lives Matter inspired The Hate U Give as the fifth most banned book, we found it available in every school library in question.”  

John Kennedy reads a passage from p*rnographic novel “All Boys Aren’t Blue” which is obtainable in public college libraries. pic.twitter.com/vnCzAnPjRb

— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) September 12, 2023

Illinois grew to become the primary state to ban ebook bans with a “Right to Read” regulation pulling funding from public libraries that restrict or prohibit materials for “partisan or doctrinal” causes, a invoice championed by Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias.

“Our libraries have become targets by a movement that disingenuously claims to pursue ‘freedom’ but is instead promoting authoritarianism.” Said Mr. Giannoulias. “Tragically, our libraries have become the Thunderdomes of controversy and strife across our nation – the likes of which we’ve never seen before.”

Mr. Kennedy quizzed Mr. Giannoulias, who can be the state librarian, whether or not “only librarians should decide whether the two books that I just referenced should be available to kids.”

Mr. Giannoulias mentioned no, however warned that permitting “random parents” to find out what belongs on the cabinets can turn into a “slippery slope.”

“With all due respect, senator, the words are disturbing, especially coming out of your mouth,” Mr. Giannoulias mentioned. “it’s very disturbing, but we’re not advocating for kids to read porn. We’re advocating for parents, random parents, not to have the ability under the guise of keeping kids safe to try and challenge the world view of every single manner on these issues.”

Cameron Samuels, a Brandeis University scholar and co-founder of Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, instructed Mr. Kennedy: “Your definition of sexual is synonymous with LGBTQ identity.”

Mr. Eden additionally learn two graphic passages from the much-challenged books, Lawn Boy and All Boys Aren’t Blue.

“Ten-year-olds performing sodomy. Underage incest. Strap on dildo blowjobs. Is this okay for kids?” requested Mr. Eden. “Judging by the fuss made by the media, NGOs, and some Democratic politicians, it seems there is a politically significant contingent that believes that this is all actually very good for kids.”

Gender Queer and Lawn Boy are each winners of the American Library Association’s Alex Award, which acknowledges books “written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 through 18.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, mentioned choices on applicable content material in libraries needs to be left to high school boards and native communities, not the Senate.

“Am I supposed to as a United States senator take over libraries of this country and be the final say of what goes in a library? I hope not. I think not,” mentioned Mr. Graham. “So this is an important hearing in this regard. It shows the difference of the two parties on this issue.”

He did agree that “a lot of times the books that are being complained about by parents you can’t even read in the public hearing,” though that didn’t cease Mr. Kennedy.

“And I won’t read it today,” Mr. Graham mentioned. “But somebody needs to understand that this is a big issue for many parents in this country.”

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