Trans books banned in children's library sections

[BeeSouriante]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6257p2vry3o

Including kids books that just acknowledge the existence of trans people.

Obviously, this is a local Reform council, but would you call for a ban of books about trans people across the board?

Queer. Kink. Love is Love.

No, it's not an extreme example, it's a very average example.

Equating kink with equality for non-heteronormative relationships is just inaccurate.

I don’t know the book concerned or the rationale behind the transfer to the adult section, but some material produced to explain gender identity is profoundly sexist, and suggests that diversity is not acceptable.

Whether they should be available to children is another question. I think it’s similar to arguments over whether early Tintin/Noddy/Roald Dahl books should be re-edited/made available to children.

As usual, there is insufficient information in the BBC article to tell us exactly what is going on.

If they're taking the books out of the children's section to vet them for age-inappropriate content, with a view to transferring them to the adult section or to store if they aren't fit for purpose, then fine. Given the dubious nature of some books and school teaching materials in this field, and their uncritical adoption in many cases, it's probably a very wise precaution. Previous due diligence can't be assumed.

But if they're going to censor pro-gender material from the library as a whole, then no. That's a slippery slope which sets a precedent for ideological censorship in other subject fields as well; and for censorship in the other direction if the political mood changes when people find out that Reform, too, have feet of clay.

We've heard enough on these boards over the years about attempts to silence gender-critical authors, using those very same arguments of "making LGBT people feel unsafe". It's not censorship per se the activists object to! But librarians should object to it and the rest of us should support them.

Tell me about it. It's something LGB people were fighting for decades before the glitter rainbow unicorns hit children's publishing.

Is there a suggestion that every single book relating to trans people has been removed?

I wouldn’t want a book called: “Thinspiration: a guide to bigger thigh gaps and learning how to manage hunger better” for anorexics on bookshelves and equally I wouldn’t want a book called: “Jane is now a boy called John” on bookshelves. For obvious and safeguarding reasons.

It’s not an extreme example. It’s a mainstream children’s picture book by a much-lauded author published by a mainstream children’s publisher.

I notice you haven’t actually answered my question.

If they've removed Percy Jackson, then sure, that's over the line. It's not my cup of tea, but it's a story, with various themes and characters, some of which are ambiguous gender-wise.

If they've just moved books like the ones mentioned above into the adult section, then that's totally appropriate.

Some subjects need to be introduced by adults with responsibility for a child's wellbeing, not stumbled upon in a picture book for toddlers/how-to manual for teens by accident.

Personally, I think it's bigoted to tell gender non-conforming children that they're not really boys or girls because they don't like football or dolls.
We should be telling our gender non-conforming kids that they're fine just as they are, not telling them they're born in the wrong body and are at risk of suicide if they don't transition.
The kind of extreme gender stereotyping and homophobia in 'trans' children's books shouldn't be paid for by public money.

It was my understanding they had not been banned, but moved to the adult section. So, it's not really a ban at all. And parents can still take out those books for their kids if they deem it appropriate for them to read. It just means kids won't randomly come across them when browsing, right?

I'm very much against banning books, but it doesn't seem like that's what's actually happening here, or have I completely misunderstood?

Tell that to the average Pride march.

It is in the window of my local children's bookshop. That's how mainstream it is.

but would you call for a ban of books about trans people across the board?

Absolutely not. No books should be banned, especially for adults.

However I do think the content of children's books should be properly checked and given an appropriate age range guidance.

I don't want to see grandad and his friends in bondage gear attending pride in a book aimed at 3 year olds for example.

I don't want books aimed at how to give your partner a blow job, and the joys of rimming, given to 10 year olds to read.

Just lost half a post, bloody laptop keeps eating my words

I have no issue with books about trans people being given to children to read. I do think they should be age appropriate and not contain untrue facts though.

Presume they don't allow violence or sexual content in most children's sections either.

Same sex mums and dads I have absolutely no problem with. I'm sure most people wouldn't.

Seriously suggesting people can change sex I have a big problem with. Save it for when they're old enough to do some critical thinking.

I support this.

That's just a mealy-mouthed response - they've been banned from the children's section of the library.

No, they have been deemed not appropriate for that section. My library's children's section doesn't have books about serial killers or erotic novels included, for example, but they haven't been banned. This hyperbole only serves to water down real instances of censorship.

So it's OK to mention trans people as long as you don't really mention trans people, but be explicit as to trans people exist and that's too much for you?

If this is what you mean then why? What other groups in society should not be talked about to children? Black people? Disabled people? What would be ideal in your society?

This seems a very reasonable approach to running library. Children’s books in the children’s section, adult books in the adult section. And if they had a guide to rimming then I’d put them in the adult section no matter what the author said, looking at you yumi Stynes.
@BeeSouriante how would you do it? A novel new classification system where if it mentions trans chuck it in the children’s section?

I would not call for a ban on books, no. It's pure philistinism to ban books. That doesn't mean I'd purposely set up a situation where little kids encounter scary, sexual, or otherwise age-inappropriate books - that's obviously not responsible, but no I would not ban books from the library itself.

In Calderdale when they banned the GC books it was wrong, and it's just as wrong to ban trans books.

They've literally just been moved to another section though, which I think is fine.

Farenheit 451 springs to mind. Slippery slope.

Banning books is an actual problem and threads like this are a stupid bloody DELIBERATE waste of everyone who cares about reading’s time. I’m wondering if bee has a job. It is school holidays…

No, safeguarding 101.

No one needs to use the prefix cis. Just women is fine. We are not a sub category of men thanks.

And she’s right. Children need to live in a world of creativity and beautiful stories. Not be drawn into a manipulative agenda of adult delusion.