Iowa library considers options after burning of LGBTQ book

[47of74]

The Orange City, Iowa library is considering what to do after some of its books were burned.

Library officials in northwest Iowa are deciding how to respond after a religious activist burned four LGBTQ children's books.

Orange City library director Amanda Vazquez tells The Sioux City Journal that officials aren't sure if they'll replace the destroyed books, which include David Levithan's "Two Boys Kissing."

Paul Dorr is the director of religious group Rescue the Perishing. He released a nearly 30 minute video on Facebook Live where he denounced the library for having the LGBTQ books and threw them in a burning barrel. The video was made on Oct. 19, the first day of the city's gay pride festival.

I'd say replace the books.

[atreides1]

1. Why replace the books?

How many times had they been checked out, before this religious fanatic got them? If the books were gathering dust on the shelf, there is no reason to replace them...because some other religious nut case, will very likely do the same thing!

I have a better idea, let's toss this clown in a burning barrel, and if his "God" loves him, then he has nothing to worry about...if not then it might be a signal to others like him....

[murielm99]

2. Libraries have to stand up to this sort of thing.

There is precedent, and the ALA will support them.

They will have to decide how to shelve these books, how to check them out (or not), but they cannot let the haters win!

[Sneederbunk]

3. Put the books online.

[murielm99]

4. They could do that.

There are copyright issues. It would have to be researched.

I think they should replace them and stand up to the bigotry.

[rurallib]

5. I still think this would be a good chance for JD Scholten to show some leadership

and replace the books while making a statement about freedom of speech and of the press.
Feels like a great opportunity to draw a distinct line between himself and King who loves authoritarians.