State Senate targeting controversial library organization[Georgia]

Capitol Beat ^ | 2/9/24 | Dave Williams

[CFW]

ATLANTA – Two years ago, the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed legislation letting parents petition school principals to ban from school libraries books they consider obscene.

This year, the state Senate is considering two additional bills aimed at making it easier to ban books from school libraries.

But a third bill before the Senate would take the push against material considered harmful to minors on a different front. Senate Bill 390 would prohibit city, county, and regional libraries from using either tax dollars or private funds on any materials offered by the American Library Association (ALA).

“They have expanded beyond school libraries,” said Lisa Morgan, president of the Georgia Association of Educators. “Now, they’re going after public libraries as well.”

The ALA has become controversial in right-wing circles in recent years for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the selection of library materials and for opposing book banning and other forms of censorship. Its president, Emily Drabinski, became a lightning rod in 2022 when she characterized herself as a “Marxist lesbian.”

“The ALA has proven it is not an organization of political neutrality,” Taylor Hawkins, director of advocacy for FrontLine Policy Action, a Christian advocacy group, told members of the Senate Government Affairs Committee Feb. 7. “This is an organization that cannot be trusted.”

Sen. Larry Walker III, R-Perry, Senate Bill 390’s chief sponsor, told committee members the ALA came to his attention when the Houston County Library sought a $20,000 grant from the organization, only to be told any materials the money was used to purchase had to promote DEI or deal with LGBTQ+ issues.

[CFW]

The left presents this as "book-banning". As long as an adult can purchase a book via a simple online order or visit to Barnes & Noble or another book store, a book is not banned. This is simply protecting children from inappropriate content. The same is done for X-rated films. We do not (or at least I hope we don't) have such films shown in schools to elementary grade children.

[ComputerGuy]

...a “Marxist lesbian...” Like Hillary?

[Liz]

Sen. Larry Walker III, R-Perry, Senate Bill 390’s chief sponsor, told committee members the American Library Association came to his attention when the Houston County Library sought a $20,000 grant, only to be told any materials for which the money was used, had to promote DEI or deal with LGBTQ+ issues.

[bk1000]

Down with the ALA!

They currently exist only to push porn and the gay agenda onto young people. Prove me wrong.

[BenLurkin]

‘The ALA president, Emily Drabinski, characterized herself as a “Marxist lesbian.”’

[EastTexasTraveler]

The ALA is a marxist organization. It should be banned everywhere.