Rapides Library Board member's proposal dealing with gender identity sparks debate

Residents packed a meeting of the Rapides Library Board on Tuesday evening to express opinions for and against a proposal to prohibit content referencing sexual orientation or gender identity from the library's children's collections.

New board member James Morgan proposed the amendment to the board's policy dealing with books and other materials available to children from preschool to age 17.

“These collections shall not include materials containing obscenity, sexual content (including content regarding sexual orientation and gender identity), or an other material that is unsuitable for the children and teen collection," his proposal reads. "Library events and displays for children and teens shall be held to the same standard.”

A public hearing was held Tuesday, and the board is scheduled to vote on the measure Jan. 17.

“During this month before the meeting, there’s still the opportunity to change wording, give input, I would love to hear you all’s feedback if you think of anything,” Morgan told other board members.

Mary Byrd said she was compelled to show up in support of the amendment as the mother of two daughters.

“As a parent, God gave me my two children,” Byrd said told the board.

She said she has nothing against anyone who changes their appearance but said children should not be exposed to materials that are sexually explicit or explore gender choices. Adults, she said, have the freedom to seek what they want to seek.

“I have a concern with the public library carrying anything that is sexually explicit,” she said as it pertains to children.

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Keith Thompson, the parent of a young son, said he was encouraged that a lot of people stood up against bigotry.

“I like using the library. I don’t want it censored unnecessarily,” Thompson said. “If there’s a book that we think is inappropriate, we won’t check that one out.”

He said the way the policy amendment is written, “it would ban the Bible. It [the Bible] discusses gender identity. It discusses sexual orientation. And if the intent is to only limit it to the trans community, then it’s outright bigoted.”

Thompson said if the intent was just to remove graphic material, the board can do that without the amendment.

Resident D.C. Sills, who opposed the amendment, said the meeting left unanswered questions.

“Which probably did answer questions,” she said. “However, listening to the public comments was very affirming and reassuring that our community supports everyone

“I think that this whole situation is completely unnecessary and unwarranted when there already is a very, very good policy in place with the Rapides Parish Library System that addresses the collection,” said Eddy Lashney. “This is a clandestine way of promoting personal agendas.”

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Residents debate Rapides Library official's proposal on gender identity