Conservative group wants to pass law to jail librarians who give LGBTQ+ books to kids

An anti-porn group in Alabama is trying to seize control of the state’s public libraries while pushing for librarians to be jailed if they provide LGBTQ+ books to minors.

Clean Up Alabama – formerly known as Clean Up Prattville – is advocating that Alabama cut ties with the American Library Association, which it refers to on its website as a “far left marxist organization.” It also calls for “the removal of pornographic, obscene, and indecent books from sections of the libraries that are designated for minors.”

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But a recent report from the Alabama Political Reporter has revealed that the organization’s plans are even bigger.

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The Reporter obtained an email sent to Clean Up Alabama supporters, which explained its plan to “Amend the Anti-Obscenity Law that exempts public libraries from criminal punishment when it comes to the distribution of material harmful to minors.” Punishment could be up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.

The organization has made it clear that it sees “material harmful to minors” as anything LGBTQ+ related, as its website declares that “Alabama libraries have been stocking their shelves with books intended to confuse the children of our communities about sexuality and expose them to material that is inappropriate for them.” According to AL.com, Clean Up Alabama member Hannah Rees specifically voiced concern over LGBTQ+ content – especially transgender content – at a recent city council meeting in Prattville.

“When we are talking about sexual content for kids is where I draw the line, that is all that we are saying,” Rees said. “The books we originally found were just very radical, gender ideologies, where it was talking to kids, very, very small kids, about transitioning into the opposite sex.”

The council meeting involved Clean Up Alabama trying to strip the local library of its autonomy and take control through a service contract. The Prattville City Council voted 4-3 against the contract.

In addition to jail time for librarians, the organization’s other reported goals include “possibly add the libraries onto current law passed pertaining to woke ideologies in schools” (Alabama passed its own version of Florida’s Don’t Say Gay law in 2022) as well as to “assure the language” in a bill attempting to ban drag shows in public spaces “matches the harmful materials we have found in the libraries.”

This final goal refers to H.B. 401, which did not make it out of committee last session but will likely be proposed again. The bill adds drag performances to the definition of “sexual conduct,” and as such, it appears Clean Up Alabama is advocating that LGBTQ+ content should fall under that definition as well.

And according to the Reporter, at least four Alabama legislators have voiced support for the organization, including House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen (R), who sponsored the state’s Don’t Say Gay bill.

Additionally, a letter from Gov. Kay Ivey (R) to the director of the Alabama Public Library Service reportedly expressed similar concerns to Clean Up Alabama’s.

Ivey wrote that “the heart of the issue seems to be the exposure of children and youth to inappropriate, sexually suggestive materials without adequate means of parental supervision,” specifically citing a book available at the Foley Public Library called Who Are You? The Kid’s Guide to Gender Identity.

“The Prattville Public Library’s toddler and children’s section, meanwhile, has reportedly featured The Pronoun Book, a board book for three-year-olds to learn about ‘preferred pronouns,’ and If You’re A Kid Like Gavin, which is a self-proclaimed story about gender transition targeted at children between four and eight years old,” Ivey continued.

Alabama lawmakers have viciously targeted LGBTQ+ rights over the past few years. Last year, the state passed a law that made it a felony for doctors to provide gender-affirming care to transgender youth, though it has been partially blocked as LGBTQ+ advocates battle it in court.