Trans books banned in children's library sections

My understanding is that Enid Blyton was initially disapproved of because her writing was considered somewhat inferior and far too popular for the more refined taste of librarians. Later she was thought of as old-fashioned, racist and Imperialist.

That’s a very good report.

"Without knowing which books have been removed from the children's section and why, it's impossible to have an informed opinion."

This link was posted by a PP upthread:

"The book at the heart of the issue is called The Autistic Trans Guide to Life and is described by publishers as an “essential survival guide that gives autistic trans and/or non-binary adults all the tools and strategies they need to live as their very best self.”"

"A statement from KCC said: “Kent County Council has confirmed that children are not and will not be exposed to adult transgender literature in our libraries.
“Staff at the county’s 99 libraries have been asked to ensure that books are always stocked in age-appropriate categories and that no adult literature makes its way into areas specifically aimed at children, or where children will be selecting books, such as the public welcome displays.

“It follows feedback from a resident who spotted a transgender book aimed at adults in a public display at the entrance of one library in Kent. The book has since been relocated to a section that is unlikely to be visited by children.”

Cabinet Member for Community & Regulatory Services, Paul Webb, said “We rightly place child protection and safeguarding at the very top of our list of priorities, as should all adults, especially those that hold public office.”

The Kent Library Service has confirmed that staff will ensure that only age-appropriate books are being displayed in children’s sections of libraries or areas where children will be selecting books to borrow."

Reform UK Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran backs removing trans book from libraries’ children’s sections
www.kentonline.co.uk/sittingbourne/news/reform-uk-council-leader-under-fire-over-trans-library-book-326683/

I mean, it's an excellent question. But if you take the view that not everything is suitable for children (which is what we are talking about, rather than banning books per se) then someone does have to decide what is suitable and what is not. Without knowing which books have been removed from the children's section and why, it's impossible to have an informed opinion.

I agree with this. Banning books isn't a road I think we should be going down. As you say, books about gay relationships would be happily banned by many people, for corruption of young minds and/or fear of social contagion etc .
Where does the line draw? Where you personally are comfortable with and then expect it to just stop?

Just say someone has a trans family member and they want to teach their child about it through reading to help them understand it is true that some people feel like the opposite sex?

why would we encourage books to build and spread deceit - we know that sex is immutable - so you can’t transition sex… and we know that gender is simply a societal reflection on the fluid of the moment stereotype of a man / woman - so you can’t transition gender either - you simply expand the stereotype.

so you can’t have a family member who is trans. and what does it mean to feel like the opposite sex? That isn’t possible as a man can never understand what it means to be a woman and vv so it can only mean that they feel like their interpretation of the stereotype of the opposite sex portrayed to them by society

so both things are inaccurate - so should we be reading or using books which confirm someone in that lie / that tells children that this lie being lived is a valid approach - no of course not…

those with genuine body dysmorphia need help, those with a mental illness or delusion need help - those with nefarious ulterior motives need closing down - none need to be celebrated or promoted

In fact, when I read 'Frog and Toad' it did not occur to me that it was a same sex relationship rather than male friendship. I came to this conclusion fairly recently when recommending books for some DC who have gay parents. I read a lot of school stories with strong female friendships, it's true. Mainly written by women.

Different libraries Different people making the same decision for different reasons 🤷‍♀️

This.

I'm thinking of decades ago too. As far as I'm aware it was because she was thought racist. I've never heard it being about George.

Just say someone has a trans family member and they want to teach their child about it through reading to help them understand it is true that some people feel like the opposite sex?

They can buy a book that reduces people regressive sex stereotypes if that is what they want to do. There is no place for books in the children’s section of the library that tells girls that if they like football, adventures and the colour blue then they must be boys.

I am pretty sure Toad and Frog have their own places - they are neighbours rather than living together. And I would say it's a leap (haha) to assume they are gay, or that rat and mole are - today we seem to have a lack of depictions of male friendships in literature, but there were quite a lot in the early 20th century, as you observed with Tolkien.

There still seem to be literary depictions of female friendship, so I'm not sure why we don't see that in books written by men so much. Maybe because readership is so female dominated.

A lot of teachers and libraries in the past didn't like EB because they thought the writing was poor quality. Which is a bit crazy given that today, most children the right age for those stories are incapable of reading them.

When you say 'about trans people'..does it mean that no character or person in any fictional or factual book can be trans? Or that they ban sex education books that say you can change sex etc?

Either way it's up to parents to choose what their young kids are exposed to in books. There shouldn't be blanket censorship on the subject.

Just say someone has a trans family member and they want to teach their child about it through reading to help them understand it is true that some people feel like the opposite sex?

They shouldn't ban books about stuff that is actually true. Trans people do exist. You can't just erase them in literary form.

That could correct now but it certainly wasn't when I asked decades ago either way it's still censorship unlike what's happened with the library that ops on about

So has fifty shades of grey.

What is the problem with books inappropriate for children being banned from the children's section of the library?

Children don't need to learn about transvestitism, autogynephilia or any other fetishes.

They also don't need to learn about bipolar or gender dysphoria or any other mental health problems.

You'd have thunk wouldn't you.

But that is exactly what force teaming LGB with TQIA+++ does. It deliberately places kink in the same sphere as LGB

I think it was because she was racist. It was always the ' queer foreigners' who were the baddies. ( Queer meaning peculiar/dodgy at that time) Not anything to do with George

Where I live there is a Labour council and the leader is forever making statements to the local press about something he's apparently done. It doesn't make the national news.

The mix of Reform and trans rights means that the BBC report on it like a major national issue.

Ig benefits two sets of people
The hardcore TRA types who get to talk about book banning etc etc
The reform types who get to portray themselves as removing harmful/pornographic material from children's libraries.

In reality, as you say, libraries have always curated the children's section. Not allowing inappropriate material there is par for the course. So the reform councils message to Kent libraries didn't really do anything except get them yet more publicity. And generate more outrage. Which in turn helps the TRA types trying to persuade vulnerable children the world is out to get them.

Exactly. Queer theory.

I don’t think children should be taught that they can change sex because they can’t. Tips for anorexics would never be allowed so I think this is a good thing. We need to protect children from misinformation.

No investigation necessary. The motivation of PIE-adjacent TRAs who want to break down child/adult boundaries is clear.

Love it when there's a hyperbolic OP about "book banning" that's followed by countless posts calmly explaining that libraries have always curated / ensured that children's books are age approproiate.
Why is it that trans advocates are always so insistent on breaking down accepted safeguarding measures for children? This really needs some sort of investigation.

It’s not a ‘blanket ban’ as I’m sure you know. The books are aimed at adults…so they have been relocated to the adult part of the library. No book burning to see here 👌🏻