Mastodawn

2. Lefor's bill would prohibit "public libraries from maintaining sexually explicit books."

This includes "visual depictions" of "sexual intercourse." But also "visual depictions" of "sexual identity" and "gender identity."

3. What is a visual depiction of "gender identity"? The bill does not define it.

Oh, and by the way, if a librarian violates this rule, they could face "up to 30 days imprisonment" and a $1500 fine.

4. Librarians in North Dakota argue that the legislation would require them to remove most books with LGBTQ characters.

5. The bill "that any “individual who believes a public library is maintaining a book in violation… may submit a written request to the public library to remove the book"

The librarian "SHALL COMPLY" within 30 days

There is no provision for the librarian to reject the request

6. Lefor asserted that North Dakota libraries today include books with "disturbing and disgusting" content.

He cited: "Let's Talk About It: The Teen's Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human"

7. The book was reviewed as "crisp, breezy, effective, & noteworthy in a crowded field for its holistic emphasis on human, emotional aspects of sexuality"

Lefor says "we have to do everything we can to make sure that [Let's Talk about It] doesn't get into the hands of children"

8. Lefor argued that a child's exposure to these kinds of books is associated with "addiction, poor self-esteem, devalued intimacy, increasing divorce rates, unprotected sex."

He did not provide any evidence to back up these claims.

9. This legislation is likely unconstitutional.

The First Amendment protects the right of the public to speak and receive information.

There are a few narrow exceptions, like obscenity, but Lefor's bill is much broader.

10. Nevertheless, Lefor is financially backed by major corporations that claim to support LGBTQ rights:

Johnson & Johnson (@[email protected])
@[email protected]
@[email protected]
@[email protected]

Major corporations back book-banning North Dakota legislator

Across the country, school districts are removing books with LGBTQ characters and themes from school libraries. Now, a high-ranking legislator from North Dakota is proposing the inevitable next step: banning these books from public libraries. The legislation

Popular Information

John Gordon Jan 26, 2023

State GOP legislators used to be uniquely whacko, but now the House GOP is similar. So this is worth noting.

Reminds me: do the DeSantis book bans apply to private schools?

Peter Butler Jan 27, 2023

@jgordon @juddlegum Not only does it not apply to private schools, it doesn’t apply to *charter* schools.

The laws are mostly aimed at local school boards, which have no jurisdiction over private or charter schools.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2022/04/04/florida-charter-schools-mostly-exempt-from-2022-education-bills-heres-why/

Florida charter schools mostly exempt from 2022 education laws. Here’s why.

Republican lawmakers say charters are different, so they were largely not affected by this year’s big school legislation.

Tampa Bay Times

http://popular.info/subscribe

11. None of these companies responded to a request for comment.

For updates and more accountability journalism, subscribe to Popular Information.

It's free to sign up

Subscribe to Popular Information

Independent accountability journalism. Click to read Popular Information, a Substack publication with hundreds of thousands of subscribers.

Nicole Parsons Jan 27, 2023

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/why-is-the-gop-escalating-attacks-on-trans-rights-experts-say-the-goal-is-to-make-sure-evangelicals-vote

Why is the fossil fuel industry funding fascist attacks on the civil rights of Americans?

PoC - voting rights
Women - reproductive rights
Immigrants - asylum rights
LGBTQ - book bans
Teens - black history

To ensure permanent one party rule and end American democracy, the wealthiest people on the planet are buying the votes of bigoted evangelicals.

Why is the GOP escalating attacks on trans rights? Experts say the goal is to make sure evangelicals vote

The recent blitz of anti-trans bills may not align with what many Republicans believe, but party lawmakers pursue them on behalf of their most important interest group.

PBS News

5klp471 Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum Where does this guy 'church' at? I need to have a word with his minister. These people have no problems crossing other people's boundaries.

Ç'thûłhů👾Rants! 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇨🇦Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum
Evidence? We don' need no stinkin' evidence!

Peter Butler Jan 27, 2023

@juddlegum I’m just gonna leave this link here…

https://www.upress.umn.edu/book-division/books/harmful-to-minors

Harmful to Minors

A radical, refreshing, and long overdue reassessment of how we think and act about children’s and teens’s sexuality

University of Minnesota Press

Morgana Jan 27, 2023

@juddlegum It is difficult to defend a viewpoint without facts, especially when the facts lead to the opposite conclusion…..that knowledge about oneself, biology, families, culturrs and choices lead to a more fulfilling life …..

Barefoot in kitchen feminist Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum why not putting parents & others in jail who let see children porn? Which is far more common & damaging.

Ç'thûłhů👾Rants! 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 🇨🇦Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum
How disgusting that kids might learn something from school!

Morgana Jan 27, 2023

@juddlegum There is something wrong with Mr Lefor…. None of these ideas seem reasonable to me…..Does this mean that he would like to see the closing of schools and the removal of and, separation of male and female students…..???????

John Pierce Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum I hate Republicans. A bunch of old white racist assholes.

SocialistStan Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum Then it's time to physically defend the libraries.

DanielRigal Jan 27, 2023

@juddlegum So anybody can get any book taken off the shelves? Illustrated Bibles depicting biblical characters with identifiable gender identities would be an easy target as the Bible consistently refers to Jesus' with the pronouns (capital H) He/Him.

Carrion Sam Jan 27, 2023

@juddlegum Bar that, it would require them to remove most books with a character, period. They should go with malicious compliance on this one.

EmoluMentaLass Jan 27, 2023

@juddlegum Question for ND: A 30 something yr old unmarried man spending nights with 12 other unmarried men. Does that count as a depiction of lgbtq?

Coach Pāṇini ®Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum gender identity is any gender at all, this is a ploy to ban reading by people who hate books

PeachMcD Jan 27, 2023

@juddlegum
#library #librarian @LibraryRaya
#LGBTQIA

DanielRigal Jan 27, 2023

@juddlegum I would suggest that any book illustrating a person or character that is recognisably male, female or nonbinary could be covered. Most likely it could only apply to depictions of humans or humanoid characters.

Rufus T. Firefly Jan 27, 2023

@juddlegum Because free speech, amirite?

permacultureandpolitics Jan 27, 2023

@juddlegum technically, “visual depictions of gender identity” could also include a straight couple holding hands or flirting. Are they going to ban books like that show those scenes as well?

Pensive™️Feb 8, 2023

@juddlegum
Does this mean that the Christian Bible will be banned? It’s very explicit in places and includes processes for abortion. Even in Church libraries?

Doreen32128 ready to rumble!Feb 9, 2023

@juddlegum This makes my blood boil! 🤬🤬🤬

5klp471 Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum Then that would have to include the bible.

This has to stop...

Mycotropic Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum so every non-technical book?

tibbi ✨Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum So… the bible needs to be ban. Good talk.

⚡️ Kozmo Voted Blue ⚡️Jan 26, 2023

I wonder if wearing a dress is a "visual depictions" of "gender identity?"

re_chief Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum How can a picture of a human NOT visually depict gender identity? Any picture of someone is automatically depicting their gender identity unless they’re wearing a hazmat suit or a cardboard box or something

Dangandblast Jan 27, 2023

@re_chief @juddlegum all illustrations shall now be of indeterminate people named Jordan and Pat.

Metric Guy Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum so would that ban a book that mentions a man who is shirtless or mentions a woman giving birth because those are both expressions of gender identity?

matt

Jan 26, 2023

@metricguy @juddlegum I was thinking something similar, but I think it’s even more absurd. I think a book that simply mentions “a man” or “a woman” is exposing their gender identities. And god forbid the man and woman are married, in which case their sexual orientation is on display for vulnerable youths to observe.

Kryten Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum please tell me someone or some group is lining up some lawsuits?

Hbardell Jan 27, 2023

@juddlegum horrifying

AvaE Jan 27, 2023

@juddlegum Insanity in Florida with Govenor DeSantis Who’s whole purpose is taking away People’s Rights!

LG Media Jan 27, 2023

@juddlegum And aren’t these the birther advocates? They’re going to be very lonely if they’re banning anything to do with sex.

kbkorb Jan 27, 2023

#BookBans #Censorship #MAGAts #RightWingNutJobs #AmericaInDecline

It might be worth noting that the South Dakota bill would also ban Homer from the library. And a huge swath of other classics.

But, you, ignorance is a badge of honor amongst Trumplicans, so why not?

Carrion Sam Jan 27, 2023

@juddlegum That's not gonna leave a lot of books now is it?

Avedon Jan 29, 2023

@juddlegum I think any woman wearing a dress would qualify as demonstrating "sexual identity" or "gender identity", in that case.

Margaret Yonco-Haines Jan 29, 2023

@juddlegum So if a book identifies a cis-gender woman as a woman, that would be prohibited?

Eric Dannewitz Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum that is insane

🌲🧿 "Max"t💽d🏵️n 🔎🍄Jan 26, 2023

@juddlegum & the mainstream media will provide protection for these fascists as their fashing increases in speed and intensity.

Camerondotca Jan 26, 2023

@MaxPow3r11 @juddlegum "look, if you think about it, don't Christian Nationalists pay taxes? And if they do, why should they be forced to pay for these books" or "Tammy went to the library to get some books to read to her Grandchildren, after looking really carefully, she managed to find one that upset her".