Wasilla city officials heard public testimony Monday night about a library book that is concerning some parents. “This Book is Gay” was written by U.K. author James Dawson. Some parents say it is not appropriate content for the library’s young readers. The dispute started earlier this month.
When one mother noticed her 10-year-old with a copy of “This Book is Gay” in his hand, she was shocked. Vanessa Campbell told the Frontiersman newspaper the book contained graphic sexual descriptions and has no place in the library’s juvenile nonfiction section.
“This Book is Gay” is written for young readers, or any readers, grappling with questions about homosexuality. It’s tone is humorous, and it contains cartoons, but some of the content explains sexual practices and that is what concerns some Wasilla parents.
Campbell complained to library director K.J. Martin-Albright, but Martin-Albright, after review, decided not to move the book to another library area.
Campbell filed for reconsideration, a rarely used process, to get a change in what section of the library the book will be shelved. David Cheezum, the owner of Palmer’s Fireside Books, is on the committee that will make that decision.
Cheezum says the library’s young readers section is close to the young adult section, so it was easy for a person younger than the book was intended for to stumble on it.
The committee met on the issue last week. Cheezum says a number of people showed up at the meeting ready to “politicize” the meeting, but were turned away because it was not an advertised public meeting.
“(After) they left, we had a really inspiring discussion just because it was so open and honest. … I wish the people who were politicizing it just wait a little more patiently for the results to be made public,” he said.
At the Wasilla city council meeting this week, several residents spoke out against the book and it’s place on library shelves, although the issue was not on the agenda. The furor may be short-lived. Campell is not asking the library to ban the book, Cheezum says, just to move it to another section. He says the decision won’t be out until next week.
Reviews of “This Book is Gay” proliferate online ranging from “absolutely hilarious” to appreciation that adolescents who may be struggling with sexual identity can access the information. It contains chapters on bullying, dating, and at least one chapter explaining the ins and outs of gay sex. Pans of the book generally center on criticism that it focuses more on gay males and not gay females.
Asked if his store stocked copies of the book, Cheezum said, “not yet.”
“We don’t have it right at this moment, but we have a train shipment, so we will be getting it,” he said.
Wasilla librarian Martin-Albright did not return calls for comment on this story.
