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?

None of the newspaper reports I have seen mention a Pride display.

However, the illustration in Kent Online features what looks like might be a Pride Display and it includes the Autism book that was the cause of complaint, "The Autistic Trans Guide to Life". Or it could be a general display that includes some "Pride books" - including one called "Pride".

I would have thought that if the book was part of a dedicated "Pride Display" that this would have been mentioned in the newspaper reports?

There does seem to have been some misunderstanding somewhere along the line in that the book was not in the Children's Section but was on display in a public area near the entrance where children could access it. It has now been moved from the "general public" area to the adult section of the library.

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/sittingbourne/news/reform-uk-council-leader-under-fire-over-trans-library-book-326683/

None of that invalidates the concerns expressed by PP about the suitability of some children's books that are promoted by librarians and are kept in the Children's Sections.

Books unsuitable for children should not be displayed in the entrance to libraries, where children have to walk past to reach the children’s section, either.

Some disingenuous whining upthread about how this equates to 'section 28 again' (a reference to when it was illegal for local authorities / schools to teach about being gay).

Gender ideology is deeply homophobic and tells children that if they are same sex attracted they must really be the opposite sex, and that being same sex (rather than same gender) attracted is genital fetishism.

Putting books about gender ideology in the adult section seems appropriate. No one is burning anything 🙄

Note that opponents to section 28 didn't refer to something else to make their case, same with opponents to Jim Crow. It's trans activism in particular prefers not to make its own case but rather use other causes to create sympathy for itself.

I've read a bunch of trans-focused books, because I am always interested in seeing what they're like. Quite a few about non-binary characters, a couple of books by Sarah Hagger-Holt, a book by L.D. Lapinski about a trans enby character, the Alex Gino books, A.J. Sass... Many of them American but not all.

I kind of found them interesting (and slightly discombobulating) to read, but I don't think I'd want my daughters to read them at the reading ages for which they're intended. (Disclaimer: my daughters are currently 6, 5 and 18 months, so none of them are likely to be asking to read the books any time soon!)

@Kirova I've read a few too and I tend to find they're just about ok (as in readable) but writing and stories aren't that compelling. Very much 'issue' books that will be forgotten as the world moves on. Also, I probably shouldn't say this but I got quite a jump scare when I googled Alex Gino.

Haha, I definitely had an, "Oh! Right..." moment too. I didn't like the Alex Gino books too much (although I'd agree they are readable) but I found the A.J. Sass ones better, mainly because they're about other things than the characters just being trans. But in a way, I feel more frustrated by those books, because while it would be refreshing to see gender-non-conforming characters represented in children's lit and learning that they can just be themselves, it seems like they have to become they/theirselves as the magic solution to all issues in their lives...

Mind you, if the trans people I know are anything to go by, the books representations of them as people who make LGBTQIAAP2S+ their whole identity is quite accurate...

Being trans isn't a kink. Neither is being Queer, Intersex, or Asexual, which is what the letters stand for.

The + also includes non-binary (not a kink) and a whole host of other things.

What are the 'whole host'?

Does it include anything anyone feels like including, or.specific things?

Put it this way: is there anything that's excluded from the +?

I’m glad you acknowledge that book is extreme. It promotes trans ideology (and fetish) to children and should be nowhere near them.

With reference to your previous comment, there are no innocent children’s books in trans ideology. They are designed to promote the idea that a child may be unhappy because they were born in the wrong body. That is not innocent.

This is the like ‘what rights do trans people lack’ question.

It has been asked many times but never answered. And as MAPs (paedophiles) are very keen to be included and no one has ever said no, they may assume it’s ok.

Being trans isn't a kink..

Some trans people are very clear that it is - those who got there through ‘sissy’ porn etc are quite open about that.

And they continues as an escalating element in their lives - only yesterday someone posted the social media of a trans identifying male who chose his dress specifically because it showed his nipples clearly.

Neither is being Queer

We have already recognised the pushing of unsuitable books on children as Queer theory - the breaking down of social norms that is what Queer theory is all about includes those that exist to protect children from sexual abuse.

Nobody would bat an eyelid if it was a summer romance display with books full of sex or a murder mystery display around Halloween with books full of violence.

I would certainly ‘bat an eyelid’ at a display of books featuring horror, gore and violence that my child had to walk past to get to the children’s section. Lots of young children are very scared of Halloween costumes and imagery. And for those that are not, such books should not be presented to children, anymore than you should show ‘Saw 3’ on a screen a child could see.

I'm talking about the content not the covers. I don't think it's the cover of The Autistic Trans Guide to Life people had a problem with, it's very plain.

The content matters too if you are advertising to children by presenting them in front of them.

The displays at my library have all sorts of books, not just child friendly ones. You must complain to your library a lot I guess?

Oh. Just realised it's my local library that's caused all the hoohah! Walked past their pride display with my daughter last week, she left the library unscathed, phew!

How old is your daughter? Does she only ever go to the Library under your supervision?

11 and so far yes.

If you're happy for your child to read this kind of heavily agendaed political and sexual material then that's your choice as a parent, it's not been removed from the library. Just not left where children can stumble over it.

In the particular library in question the children's section is at the back so they do have to walk past shelves of adults section books to get to the children's section. So yes, they can still stumble upon adult books.

No book should ever be banned. Ever