By: Jonathan Lange

It was Joseph Heller’ 1961 novel that introduced the term “Catch-22” into America’s modern vocabulary. In Heller’s “Catch-22,” he satirized a bureaucratic loop that prevented a military man from requesting a psychological evaluation because, according to the “catch-22” rule, the very act of asking proved he didn’t need one. Merriam-Webster defines the essential meaning of this phrase as “a difficult situation for which there is no easy or possible solution.”

The American Library Association (ALA) touts Heller’s novel among the famous “banned books.” However, it was only temporarily banned in one Ohio library from 1971-1974.

Banned Books Week, which takes place the last week of September every year, gives a platform for libraries to treat parental concerns with utter contempt. They ban classics while housing sexually explicit books in children’s libraries.

First, it gives woke school administrators—not parents— the ability to remove classics like John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” and Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” from a high school English curriculum.This enables them to claim that these books are “censored.” Second, the ALA uses the dubious claim to include these kinds of books on their “Top 10 #BannedBooksList.”

Third, the same ALA then puts eight other books on the list that are truly objectionable but makes it look on a par with American classics.

This brings us to the real Catch-22: The pornographic language and pictures found in the children’s book section of Wyoming’s libraries. This obscenity is so over-the-top that these books would never be printed in any respectable newspaper.

Any teacher or librarian unable to see why sane parents would object to the open display of “Doing It,” “The V-Word,” and “This Book is Gay” in the children’s section of a library has no business being around our children. Despite what progressive ideologues will tell you, this has nothing to do with “sexual identity” and everything to do with exposing children to inappropriate sexual content.

So, what can we do about it in Wyoming?

First, educate yourself. Concerned citizens should use the card catalogue of every child’s library to search for books of a sexual or otherwise objectionable nature. Work with other people in the community to share this workload.Second, go and talk to administrators to discuss your findings. Seek a solution that protects the community’s children. Sexually objectionable books should, at the bare minimum, not be displayed on the direct eye-level of your average seven-year-old. These books must be moved to the adult part of the library.

Third, learn the library’s policies that pertain to your concerns. If it is not being followed, correct the abuse. If the policy itself is inadequate, go to the appropriate oversight board—either the school board or the library board. Schools and counties are not answerable to the American Library Association. They are answerable to the voters.

Finally, remember that it is not only the business of parents to make public libraries safe for their children. It is the business of the entire community.

Your voice must be heard. This should not have to be a Catch-22.

By: Jonathan Lange



NathanWinters
Executive Director

 

Dear Friends:

What began in places like New York and Los Angeles is now spreading across the country. Believe it or not, Drag Queen Story Hour is a recent phenomenon that may just show up at your community library very soon. In fact, these gatherings and others like them have already happened or are planned in at least 40 states to date.

The events feature men outfitted in makeup and outfits, using their “drag” name, and reading stories to children as young as 3 years old at public libraries. And despite what organizers say, there is nothing innocent or “family-friendly” about these events. The story-times have a very specific agenda and event organizers are not coy about the intent of this program.

According to advertisements, “Drag Queen Story Hour captures the imagination and play of the gender fluidity of childhood and gives kids glamorous, positive and unabashedly queer role models. In spaces like this, kids are able to see people who defy rigid gender restrictions and imagine a world where people can present as they wish, where dress up is real.”

The ideology behind Drag Queen Story Hour goes even further beyond ideas regarding sexual identity, and for these activists, undermining parents’ authority in the lives of their children is often necessary. For example, Gay Pride Director Jeremy Hobbs of Columbus, Georgia was quite explicit about the desire to undermine parents when he stated, “We’re not born with hate; we learn hate. And it all starts at home.”

Yes. In addition to introducing and pushing gender confusion on innocent children, this program plans to teach kids that any biblical values they may glean from their parents at home is “hate.”

Friends—it is time to act and, thankfully, thousands of people across the nation have already spoken up and raised concerns with their local libraries and leaders. Meanwhile, in New Mexico, we must be ready to act if and when the time comes, so here are some things you can do right now:

  1. Please continue to follow us for more information on this unacceptable program.
  2. Please make sure your pastor is aware of this program and encourage him to preach on the important biblical issues of gender and human sexuality.
  3. Please remember to vote this November for those candidates who will support parental rights and push back against the radical left’s assault on Christian parenting.
  4. To help fund our efforts to inform and engage local communities with calls to action, please consider a contribution to help in our efforts.

Today we are facing issues that just 5 years ago would have been unimaginable. The only way to push back is for the church to be awake, alert, and active. And to that end, we look forward to partnering with you.

God bless you and thank you for your continued prayers and generous support.

Sincerely,

Vince Torres
President and Executive Director

You may have read our recent report about the latest effort to normalize sexual brokenness and push it on our kids. It’s called Drag Queen Story Hour, and if it hasn’t come to your community – maybe even your library – keep an eye out for it.

But what actually happens at one of these surreal events? Family Policy Alliance recently went to one to find out.

This event was at a library, though the library – in response to heavy public criticism and media coverage – took great pains to say that it was not sponsoring the event. So who was the sponsor? A local gay nightclub that also includes a gay bathhouse – a business where men have sex with other men. Not exactly the kind of folks that one would expect a library to facilitate interaction with children, especially in the #MeToo age.

Notably, the library also allowed the event – titled Drag Queen Story Time in this location – to be scheduled shortly after the library’s “Story Time”, presumably to attract more kids.

What the kids got was in large part political parody, followed by recruitment to kids’ drag queen competitions and an opportunity for all of the kids to get personal photos with the drag queens.

The story was A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, a parody of a book about a rabbit by Mike Pence’s daughter. In this version, two male bunnies want to get married, and Vice President Mike Pence is the villain – a stink bug who tries to stop them.

After introducing various drag queens who hold various “titles” from drag queen competitions, the lead drag queen invited kids ages 10 or older to compete for drag queen titles of their own. “So,” he said, “if you have kids who think this is great, or if they want to explore into other things, there are outlets for that.” The drag queen then detailed the titles and opportunities.

Events similar to this are happening with increasing frequency around the country. What can you do?

Thank you for speaking up for our kids!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

The Pikes Peak Library District is using your tax dollars to host a local Drag Queen Story Time for El Paso County children. It happens on Saturday, Sept. 1.

Drag Queen Story Times are being pushed by national transgender activist organizations and by the American Library Association. For more information, see our recent story. Yet many libraries have been resistant – as they should – to hosting such programs for children. That’s why it’s especially concerning that the Pikes Peak Library District would host a program intended to push this agenda on kids in our community.

Family Policy Alliance and our close ally, Colorado Family Action, are asking concerned El Paso County citizens and taxpayers to speak up and help stop it.

Because the PPLD Trustees are appointed by a joint committee of the Board of El Paso County Commissioners and the Colorado Springs City Council, your message will go to all members of the Commission and the City Council.

Sending that message to all of these leaders can be done in just moments on our Action Center. Please speak up today – and please also let others in El Paso County know about it.

Thanks for making your voice heard!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

The push to give drag queens personal face time with kids is becoming widespread, and Family Policy Alliance is calling on Americans like you to take action.

If you heard about Drag Queen Story Hour and thought it was limited to libraries in New York City and Los Angeles, it’s time to think again.  A review by Family Policy Alliance has discovered that such events have already happened or are planned in at least 40 states.

With backing from the American Library Association, most of these events are happening in public libraries.  The events feature one or more drag queens in full garb – reading stories and engaging in hands-on craft projects – all to push the message that their behavior and lifestyle is perfectly normal.

In Boston, the public library hosted the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence – a group that mocks Catholics – for a presentation to children (photo at right).

But evangelicals aren’t left out either. Just this month, the Brooklyn Public Library hosted a story hour with drag queen Rev. Yolanda, known for “Rev. Yolanda’s Old-Time Gospel Hour.”

Perhaps most alarming is that the push for these events is now going national, with events happening in all but a handful of states.

However, there is reason to believe that with organized opposition, some of these attacks on kids, families and faith can be stopped. Libraries in some communities have been reticent to host these events – forcing organizers to look for other sites. And a major library in Phoenix even cancelled an event after facing opposition from local residents.

Please join Family Policy Alliance in taking a stand against these events. Here’s what you can do:

Thank you for speaking up for our kids!

The Family Policy Alliance Team