NEW RULE PROPOSED FOR CONTROVERSIAL BOOKS AND EVENTS IN PUBLIC LIBRARIES: 30 DAY COMMENT PERIOD STARTS TODAY
Among other things, the rule would also require libraries to assign age-appropriate designations for events or presentations so parents know what to expect. One event that would be included has already made news headlines around the country, and, in St. Louis: Drag Queen Story Hour.
It's exactly what it says it is: adults in drag, reading to, and doing activities with, kids.
 |
| Photo credit: news.stlpublicradio.org |
The proposed rule follows a new law, passed by Missouri legislators last session, that makes it a class A misdemeanor for schools to provide sexually explicit images to students. The law forced Missouri librarians to remove books from school libraries across the state, and was passed after parent attempts to restrict such books were unsuccessful.
Some of the images covered by the law include people performing sex acts on one another. The images seen below are examples of such images.
These images are in books that were in Rockwood school libraries, available to kids as young as 14 years old. They have since been removed because of the new law, and, were found in other school district libraries around Missouri, as well:
WARNING SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONTENT
 |
| "Let's Talk About It: A Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships and Being A Human" |
 |
| "Let's Talk About It: A Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships and Being A Human" |
"
 |
| "The Handmaid's Tale: Graphic Novel" |
Other books with mature sexual content can be found here.
The list of books Rockwood removed, due to sexually explicit images, is here.
Note: "Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic" is not on the list of books that were removed because it had already been categorized as "lost." It is no longer in Rockwood's library database.
While this issue is often characterized as censorship or book banning, parents have emphasized they only want to protect minor children from content such as that above.
Everyone has 30 days to comment on the new rule.
To comment: mail the office of the Missouri Secretary of State, PO Box 1767, Jefferson City, MO or by email to comments@sos.mo.gov. Include 15 CSR 30-200.015 in the subject line of your email.