Retirada de Libros

LGBTQIA+ en Bibliotecas por Inapropiados

La extrema derecha promueve en bibliotecas públicas y librerías la retirada de libros con menciones a la comunidad LGBTQIA+, la historia negra o la justicia social. Los considera “inapropiados” y que “adoctrinan” a los niños. En Anchorage, un vecino ha protestado en la Asamblea por no encontrarlos en la Biblioteca Pública. En Utah han prohibido la Biblia y el Libro del Mormón por “pornográficos e indecentes” y por su “vulgaridad y violencia”. Texas, Florida, Misuri y Carolina del Sur también vetan libros que considera “ofensivos”.

POR CARLOS MATÍAS

La directora de la Oficina para la Libertad Intelectual de la Asociación Estadounidense de Bibliotecas, Deborah Caldwell-Stone cree que esta “censura” estrecha las opciones educativas y el acceso de los estudiantes a la información. En la Asamblea de Anchorage, Sol de Medianoche ha intentado entrevistar a Chris Constant, el actual presidente, sin conseguirlo.

Salvando distancias, la actitud de censura de los conservadores del Partido Republicano recuerda la “Aktion wider den undeutschen Geist” (“Acción contra el espíritu antialemán”) de los nazis. En 1933, las Juventudes Hitlerianas y seguidores del ‘Führer’ realizaron quemas públicas de libros en la Plaza de la Ópera de Berlín y otras 21 ciudades universitarias.

Félix Rivera, miembro de la Asamblea por el Distrito 4, comenta a Sol de Medianoche que “hay muchos cuentos con moraleja sobre la prohibición y quema de libros. Deberíamos aprender de la historia y no repetir errores del pasado”.

“En general, la agenda anti-LGBTQIA+ se centra en erradicar a las personas queer”, señala Rivera. “Pero eso nunca ocurrirá. Somos tus vecinos, repartidores de pizza, baristas, trabajadores de correos, funcionarios electos y profesores. Formamos parte del tejido de la sociedad esta- dounidense y no se nos puede borrar”. in cases of controversy; and whether religious beliefs and moral convictions can influence policy. With each new ruling on abortion, the pro- and anti-abortion movements revive with great force.

No es la primera vez que políticos republicanos se oponen a libros que califican de “inapropiados”. Rivera comenta que “vivimos en una sociedad pluricultural. Eso asusta a algunas personas. Nuestra historia como país está plagada de historias de individuos que preferirían volver a los ‘buenos viejos tiempos’ en los que había que tener una determinada pigmentación de piel, un determinado sexo y una determinada clase para importar en la sociedad. A esos ‘buenos viejos tiempos’ no volveremos nunca”.

Algún republicano o conservador sin militancia en el GOP (“Grand Old Party”) podría decir que los libros están al alcance de los niños. Pero Rivera lo desmiente: “en nuestras escuelas públicas no lo están y en las bibliotecas públicas son los padres quienes deciden qué libros pueden leer sus hijos”.

Charlotte Glover, propietaria de Parnassus Books, en Ketchikan, dice ser una firme defensora de las bibliotecas públicas y la variedad de su oferta bibliográfica. Glover ha sido bibliotecaria de servicios para jóvenes y escribió “una carta apoyando la Hora del Cuento de Drag Queen”.

El mes pasado, Parnassus Books hizo su primer escaparate conmemorativo del “Orgullo”, que se celebra cada junio, y pidió más libros LGBTQIA+ “para apoyar a las personas de esta comunidad”, declaro Glover.

Currently, according to 3.14Action, doctors can be jailed in more than fourteen states for performing an abortion. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June of last year, twenty-four states have banned it altogether or plan to do so.

Each year, 2.4 million people turn to Planned Parenthood in the United States, because they cannot afford medical care or lack health insurance. For this reason, the Reproductive Rights Survey includes questions about approval or disapproval of this non-profit organization, which provides help, information, guidance and care on reproductive health issues and sex education.

3.14Action aims to ensure that the representatives of the American people in Congress, state legislatures and local offices are scientists, trained to solve the nation’s problems. STEM professionals who are “ready, willing and able to find solutions to the important challenges facing America in the 21st century.”

In educational systems, STEM professionals are those who have specialized in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Last year, 3.14Action supported more than thirteen hundred pro-abortion scientists, who ran in 47 states. Currently, in Alaska, it supports Scott Kawasaki, Donna Mears, and Daniel Volland.

Scott Kawasaki is a health care professional, a member of the Alaska Senate representing District A, which includes neighborhoods within the Fairbanks city limits. He is from the Democratic Party.

Donna Mears represents House District 21 in the 33rd State Legislature.

Daniel Volland is a small business owner and health care provider. He serves in the Anchorage Assembly.

LGBTQIA+ Books Deemed

Inappropriate in Local Libraries

The extreme right wing promotes in public libraries and bookstores the withdrawal of books with mentions of the LGBTQIA+ community, black history, or social justice. It considers them “inappropriate” and believes they “indoctrinate” children. In Anchorage, a neighbor has protested at the Assembly for not finding them in the Public Library. In Utah, the Bible and the Book of Mormon have been banned as “pornographic and indecent” and for their “vulgarity and violence.” Texas, Florida, Missouri, and South Carolina also vetoed books deemed “offensive.”

BY CARLO MATÍAS

The director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, Deborah Caldwell-Stone believes this “censorship” narrows educational options and students’ access to information.

Sol de Medianoche attempted to interview Christopher Constant, Assembly’s President, without success.

The censorship attitude of the conservatives of the Republican Party is reminiscent of the Nazis’ “Aktion wider den undeutschen Geist” (“Action against the anti-German spirit”). In 1933, the Hitler Youth and followers of the ‘Führer’ carried out public book burnings in Berlin’s Opera Square and 21 other university towns.

Felix Rivera, Assembly Member for District 4, tells Sol de Medianoche that “there are many cautionary tales about banning and burning books. We should learn from history and not repeat past mistakes.”

“In general, the anti-LGBTQIA+ agenda is focused on eradicating queer people,” Rivera points out. “But that will never happen. We’re your neighbors, pizza delivery people, baristas, postal workers, elected officials, and teachers. We form part of the Amer- ican society’s fabric, and we can’t be erased.”

This is not the first time Republican politicians have objected to books they call “inappropriate.” Rivera comments that “we live in a multicultural society. That scares some people. Our history as a country is littered with stories of individuals who would prefer to go back to the ‘good old days’ when you had to have a certain skin pigmentation, a certain gender, and a certain class status to matter in society. To those ‘good old days’ we will never go back.”

Some Republican or conservative without GOP militancy might say that books are within the reach of children. But Rivera denies it. “In our public schools they are not, and in public libraries it is up to parents to decide what books their children can read.”

Charlotte Glover, owner of Parnassus Books in Ketchikan, says she’s a strong advocate for public libraries and the variety of books they offer. Glover has been a youth services librarian and wrote “a letter supporting Drag Queen Storytime.”

Last month, Parnassus Books held its first “Pride” commemorative showcase, held each June, and called for more LGBTQIA+ books “to support people in this community.”