Two residents of San Diego checked out nearly every pride book from the Rancho Peñasquitos library in protest against “inappropriate content”, in other words, L.G.B.T.Q. content.
According to The New York Times, the manager at Rancho Peñasquitos library, Adrianne Peterson, has been running the library since 2012. In the library, there is a display across from the checkout counter using a wooden shelf to display pride books, and over it hangs a huge pride flag with the words “PRIDE” stuck onto it. The wooden bookshelf has stickers on it, saying things like “Pride is love, truth”, “Love is love”, “The more we talk the more we understand,” etc.
Last month, two residents of the town sent an email to Mrs. Peterson, saying that they checked out almost every pride book, and threatened not to return them unless she stopped displaying and putting the pride books, or in their words “inappropriate content” on the shelves. They claimed that they were doing this to “protect our children and the community.” They had checked out 20 books in total.
“It was just kind of like, ‘Whoa, curveball,’” Ms. Peterson said. “I began to wonder, ‘Oh, have I been misunderstanding our community?’”
“This is the first time I’ve had someone completely decimate a pride display in protest. It’s concerning and upsetting,” said Misty Jones, City of San Diego head librarian.
“Jones said, ‘(They) said they felt having those types of books on gender identity and sexuality were not appropriate for children. It’s not in the children’s area. It’s in the front of the library.’ ‘And also, I think it discounts the fact that there are many many children with two moms, two dads. There are children that identify as LGBTQ. This is not something that should be shielded from children,’ Jones added.”, Fox 5 wrote.
Jones also said that “San Diego libraries have put up pride displays for several years.”, which just goes to show how surprising this incident has been.
“My response was to try to let them know what the pride display is. It’s like celebrating any kind of cultural celebration, a holiday, or different culture. That’s what it is, it’s a community. The library does stand for equity, diversity, and inclusion.”
As a result of this hateful act done by the two, new pride books started to arrive at the library after the incident. $15,000 in cash was donated to the library system from people who support L.G.B.T.Q. rights. This wasn’t only one person, it was around 180.
The New York Times wrote that “over $30,000 had been donated toward more L.G.B.T.Q.-themed materials and programming”
Many have helped tremendously in trying to recover and replace the pride display at the Rancho Peñasquitos library.
“It seems like these two women were trying to hide LGBT people away,” said Jen Labarbera, director of education and outreach for San Diego Pride. “We’ve fought many years to prevent that. There’s nothing wrong with being LGBT.”
According to Fox 5, “People have 30 days after checking out a book. The protestors will have to pay a replacement fine of $235 for the books if they do not return them.”
The protestors eventually returned all of the books.
There are always setbacks to communities, but if we all work together, those setbacks can be turned into growth: growth in trust, love, and kindness.
According to The New York Times, the manager at Rancho Peñasquitos library, Adrianne Peterson, has been running the library since 2012. In the library, there is a display across from the checkout counter using a wooden shelf to display pride books, and over it hangs a huge pride flag with the words “PRIDE” stuck onto it. The wooden bookshelf has stickers on it, saying things like “Pride is love, truth”, “Love is love”, “The more we talk the more we understand,” etc.
Last month, two residents of the town sent an email to Mrs. Peterson, saying that they checked out almost every pride book, and threatened not to return them unless she stopped displaying and putting the pride books, or in their words “inappropriate content” on the shelves. They claimed that they were doing this to “protect our children and the community.” They had checked out 20 books in total.
“It was just kind of like, ‘Whoa, curveball,’” Ms. Peterson said. “I began to wonder, ‘Oh, have I been misunderstanding our community?’”
“This is the first time I’ve had someone completely decimate a pride display in protest. It’s concerning and upsetting,” said Misty Jones, City of San Diego head librarian.
“Jones said, ‘(They) said they felt having those types of books on gender identity and sexuality were not appropriate for children. It’s not in the children’s area. It’s in the front of the library.’ ‘And also, I think it discounts the fact that there are many many children with two moms, two dads. There are children that identify as LGBTQ. This is not something that should be shielded from children,’ Jones added.”, Fox 5 wrote.
Jones also said that “San Diego libraries have put up pride displays for several years.”, which just goes to show how surprising this incident has been.
“My response was to try to let them know what the pride display is. It’s like celebrating any kind of cultural celebration, a holiday, or different culture. That’s what it is, it’s a community. The library does stand for equity, diversity, and inclusion.”
As a result of this hateful act done by the two, new pride books started to arrive at the library after the incident. $15,000 in cash was donated to the library system from people who support L.G.B.T.Q. rights. This wasn’t only one person, it was around 180.
The New York Times wrote that “over $30,000 had been donated toward more L.G.B.T.Q.-themed materials and programming”
Many have helped tremendously in trying to recover and replace the pride display at the Rancho Peñasquitos library.
“It seems like these two women were trying to hide LGBT people away,” said Jen Labarbera, director of education and outreach for San Diego Pride. “We’ve fought many years to prevent that. There’s nothing wrong with being LGBT.”
According to Fox 5, “People have 30 days after checking out a book. The protestors will have to pay a replacement fine of $235 for the books if they do not return them.”
The protestors eventually returned all of the books.
There are always setbacks to communities, but if we all work together, those setbacks can be turned into growth: growth in trust, love, and kindness.
