Book Bans (Right-Leaning)

The General Assembly will adjourn at 12:01 a.m. April 9. Negotiations on the $63 billion state budget are likely to continue late into the week. The House version of a bill aimed at making Maryland one of the few states to put statewide guardrails on book bans passed both chambers along party lines.

Bill to Prohibit Public Libraries From Banning Books Passes Assembly Committee. Bill that would prohibit public libraries from banning books or other materials because of topic or content passed the Assembly Education Committee in a 5-1 vote with 1 abstention on Wednesday. AB 1825, also known as the California Freedom to Read Act, would also prohibit the governing board or body of a public library from proscribing the circulation or procurement of books.

The American Library Association released the ten most challenged book titles of 2023. Seven of the ten books deal with LGBTQ themes. Maia Kobabes Gender Queer, a graphic memoir that chronicles the author coming out as nonbinary, topped the list for the third year in a row.

During the Cold War, particularly in the 1950s, the term useful idiot was used to describe people in the U.S. and other Western nations who spread ideas enjoining communist ideology. Today, useful idiots are everywhere: government, media, academia, churches. Richard Byers Mt. Pleasant: Reviving the term in 2024 would be appropriate.

Panel discussion on book ban impact to be held at Greensburg YWCA. Event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Founders Room at 424 N Main Street, Greensburg. It will feature testimony from Pennsylvania educators and activists on the effects of limiting access to books. Hempfield Area School Districts board voted to adopt new rules governing books and other library materials.

American Library Association reports 65% increase in challenged or banned books last year. Eight of the ten most banned books were challenged in part for containing LGBTQIA+ representation. Florida and Texas lead the country on book bans, but incidents of censorship have been recorded in 41 states. 17 states reported threats on more than 100 titles, including Connecticut, Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennessee.

21-member board would review childrens books in circulation and block the purchase new of new ones that the board deems inappropriate. The council, in October, ordered for the board to be created, which critics called a book-banning system. The board will meet at least twice a year and will be subject to the state open meetings law.

Alabama legislators want $6.6 million in library funding tied to book relocations. Public comment period still open for multiple rules that would impact how libraries handle content dealing with sex, gender and LGBTQ issues. The budget amendment comes after months of upheaval among communities regarding sexual and LGBTQ+ books primarily geared toward young adults.

Blundering Biden Campaign Sends Jill out to call Florida Republicans Nazis. She was in California over the weekend raising money for her husband's re-election campaign. She aimed at the Parental Rights in Education Act in Florida, referring to it with the name Democrat activists gave it - the Don't Say Gay Bill. She equates banning gay porn in schools to Nazi Germany.