Posted on Jul 13, 2023
A Kansas town is threatening again to kick out the public library unless it removes LGBTQ+ books
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Members of St. Marys five-person city commission, all of whom are members of an extreme Catholic religious sect, have threatened to pull the lease of the public library if they don't remove all LGBTQ+ and other "socially divisive" books from the shelves. Their efforts have drawn a warning from the ACLU of Kansas.
ST. MARYS — Gerard Kleinsmith says he hates the idea of censorship.
He just wants to pull the lease for the city’s public library because he doesn’t like books about transgender people.
As a city commissioner, he feels it is his duty to remove transgender content — “garbage,” as he refers to it. Kleinsmith said during a city commission meeting that removing the library was part of his job as a city official, emphasizing “God doesn’t make mistakes,” and his belief that people can’t change genders.
ST. MARYS — Gerard Kleinsmith says he hates the idea of censorship.
He just wants to pull the lease for the city’s public library because he doesn’t like books about transgender people.
As a city commissioner, he feels it is his duty to remove transgender content — “garbage,” as he refers to it. Kleinsmith said during a city commission meeting that removing the library was part of his job as a city official, emphasizing “God doesn’t make mistakes,” and his belief that people can’t change genders.
A Kansas town is threatening again to kick out the public library unless it removes LGBTQ+ books
Posted from kcur.org
Religion
Christianity
LGBTQ+
Transgender
Gender
Posted 10 mo ago
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Freedom of religion does not mean people get to impose THEIR beliefs onto everyone else. You wanna be Christian? Go for it. But not everyone is and not everyone's religion is the same as yours.
So because he doesn't like "books about transgender people" no one should be able to read them? And what the f* does that even mean?
If "god doesn't make mistakes" then all these transphobes who wear glasses need to stop wearing them or contacts - if god wanted you to see you would. Don't die your hair, if god wanted you that hair color you would. Don't get braces because god didn't want you to have straight teeth.
So because he doesn't like "books about transgender people" no one should be able to read them? And what the f* does that even mean?
If "god doesn't make mistakes" then all these transphobes who wear glasses need to stop wearing them or contacts - if god wanted you to see you would. Don't die your hair, if god wanted you that hair color you would. Don't get braces because god didn't want you to have straight teeth.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."But she is still fielding criticism from religious members of the community, including during a contentious June 28 library board meeting attended by Binsfeld and other St. Marys residents.
“As we move forward, we would like to see that all LGBTQ+ media — whether audio files, movies, books, activities, etc. — be removed from this branch altogether and from any access, including online ordering and inter-library loans, to any minor through this branch,” resident Stephen Murtha wrote in a letter to library board members.
The library should reflect the community’s Christian majority, Murtha wrote.
Cremer said for the most part, these complaints were from a small segment of the population and that she hasn’t had problems or complaints from a majority of library customers.
But she is concerned about the future of the library.
“We have continued, even though that stress and controversy has been significant,” Cremer said. “My staff and I have continued forward just as we always have to provide those services, because it’s not the people that we’re serving, it’s not their fault, but they’re the ones that are going to be losing.”"
..."But she is still fielding criticism from religious members of the community, including during a contentious June 28 library board meeting attended by Binsfeld and other St. Marys residents.
“As we move forward, we would like to see that all LGBTQ+ media — whether audio files, movies, books, activities, etc. — be removed from this branch altogether and from any access, including online ordering and inter-library loans, to any minor through this branch,” resident Stephen Murtha wrote in a letter to library board members.
The library should reflect the community’s Christian majority, Murtha wrote.
Cremer said for the most part, these complaints were from a small segment of the population and that she hasn’t had problems or complaints from a majority of library customers.
But she is concerned about the future of the library.
“We have continued, even though that stress and controversy has been significant,” Cremer said. “My staff and I have continued forward just as we always have to provide those services, because it’s not the people that we’re serving, it’s not their fault, but they’re the ones that are going to be losing.”"
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