Every week I receive an e-mail/newsletter from the American Library Association that includes various library related news reports, discussions, blogs, and more. One part of this e-mail/newsletter I especially love is the “Seen Online” section. This includes a number of news articles that are aimed at discussing libraries and/or librarians. It is not uncommon for me to read an article in this section that gets under my skin, which I then share with my colleagues and post on my Facebook page for my friends and family to read.
Last week’s “Seen Online” section went a little further than just getting under my skin. An articled entitled "Proposed Bill May Quiet Conversation on Homosexuality", discusses how the state of Tennessee is trying to pass a bill in which the only form of sexuality students will learn about in elementary school and middle school is heterosexuality.
This article also states the following: “The bill, known as House Bill 229 or Senate Bill 49, says in part: "No public elementary or middle school shall provide any instruction or material that discusses sexual orientation other than heterosexuality." So, not only are schools not allowed to teach anything having to do with homosexuality, the schools will also not be able to provide access to information about homosexuality.
Ah yes, this article angered me in so many ways that I thought my head was going to explode. As a librarian, I believe everyone has the right to access information, no matter what the topic is, without fear of being criticized or judged. I also believe people, young and old, should be able to have free access to books. So why does this proposed bill anger me so much? Let me explain…
1. Books for Bibliotherapy
It is a proven fact that people, both young and old, read books for bibliotherapy. For those not in the library world, bibliotherapy is “the process of using books to help. . . think about, understand, and work through social and emotional concerns” (Information Found Here). For example, let’s say a set of parents has decided to get a divorce. One of the parents may bring their child into the library to find a book, whether fiction or nonfiction, that shows the character going through the same type of situation, their parents getting divorced. The child will use the book for bibliotherapy.
People of all ages use this bibliotherapy technique by finding books in which characters are going through similar experiences the reader is going through. This makes the reader feel that they are not alone or are not “weird”. Let’s get back to the point at hand. By taking all homosexual materials out of the school, students will no longer have access to information on this topic. Students whose parents are gay and may want a better understanding of what is going on or learn about children who have gone through the same situation, will not be able to do so. Middle school students that are starting to have feelings for the same sex, who may also feel ashamed of having these feelings, will not be able to find a book to connect with to make them feel that they are normal and should not be ashamed of who they are.
2. “Can’t they just get the information somewhere else?”
Some may say, “Well, just because a student can’t get this information at school doesn’t mean they can’t go to the library and/or book store to find the information.” Sure, information on homosexuality can be found in a public library or book store, but remember, not all students have the ability to get to a public library or a book store. Students at this age do not have their driver’s license or a car. Furthermore, those that can get to the public library or a book store with their parents may be too embarrassed for their parents to see what they are reading, checking out, or buying. Even if the parent is not there, the parent has a right to view the books their child has checked out, making the student that much more fearful to find and checkout books on homosexuality. So this argument of having the student find information on homosexuality elsewhere doesn’t work for me.
3. “I don’t want my child to read books about homosexuality!”
As a parent, you have the right to choose what your child can and cannot read. I completely get that and am actually happy to hear about parents being involved in their child’s reading experience. I firmly believe in this. As a child, I was lucky enough to have parents that let me explore all books in the library and I turned out just fine. Nonetheless, as a parent you have the right to decide what your child can and cannot read. However, parents, or anyone else for that matter, do NOT have the right to stop other people from reading books on whatever topic they want to read, such as homosexuality. One person should not have the right to ban an entire school or community from reading a certain book because they might not agree with the topic or theme contained within the book. Doing this is a clear example of book banning. Period.
According to An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights,“Libraries are charged with the mission of providing services and developing resources to meet the diverse information needs and interests of the communities they serve. Services, materials, and facilities that fulfill the needs and interests of library users at different stages in their personal development are a necessary part of library resources. . . Libraries should not limit the selection and development of library resources simply because minors will have access to them. Institutional self-censorship diminishes the credibility of the library in the community, and restricts access for all library users. Children and young adults unquestionably possess First Amendment rights, including the right to receive information through the library in print, nonprint, or digital format.”
This same interpretation states that “Lack of access to information can be harmful to minors.”
One final point for this argument is that why is it ok for students to learn about heterosexuality at this age level, but not homosexuality? Don’t you think students that have homosexual parents may feel that much more uncomfortable in their classes that are strictly teaching about heterosexuality?
4. This Isn’t About Sexuality
Rather than thinking about this bill in terms of whether or not you are for or against homosexuality, think of it in terms of limiting students to information. If a middle school girl was suffering from an eating disorder and wanted to read about similar girls going through or having experienced an eating disorder, would you keep her from accessing this information? If a child wanted to learn about evolution, no matter what your personal views are on the topic, would you keep them from accessing this information and learning about it?
As a librarian, I want people to have free access to information. It is not fair for one person or a group of people to censor what other people, young or old, can read. It disgusts me to think about how many students will lose out on information they may be seeking about homosexuality if this Tennessee bill passes.
