At least three Florida counties have severed ties with the American Library Association over the group’s support for keeping radical LGBTQ materials in school and public libraries.
According to WGCU, on Wednesday, the County Commission in Collier County voted unanimously to cancel the community’s membership in the ALA. Collier joined Citrus and Hernando counties in dumping the group.
Collier County paid the ALA roughly $1,600 a year for its membership, which entitled the county access to ALA materials and expertise.
In the news: Florida Gov. DeSantis Slams Michigan Rep. Rashia Tlaib For Refusing To Condemn Hamas
“The juice may not be worth the squeeze,” Commission Chairman Rick LoCastro told WGCU about the decision. “I mean the $1,600 may not be getting us a lot. But it’s causing concerns with some people, and parents and elected officials. And commissioners may have an issue with that.”
Part of the uprising against the ALA stems from comments by its leader, President Emily Drabinski. Drabinski has described herself on social media as a Marxist lesbian and who has advocated the “queering” of public libraries.
But the ALA more broadly has supported and promoted Drag Queen Story Hour events and has encouraged librarians to acquire and disseminate books filled with pro-LGBTQ content to “young readers from birth to age 18,” as the ALA says on its website.
According to the pro-family organization Mass Resistance, Montana as a state has withdrawn its membership from the ALA in protest of such actions.
In the news: Florida To Invest $25 Million In Israel Bonds
Mass Resistance also noted that in July, Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and two other GOP lawmakers called for a ban on federal funding for the ALA.
They did so, saying that the federal government must investigate the ALA for urging libraries to block books and events by Christian book publisher Brave Books, the imprint for Christian actor Kirk Cameron’s children’s books.
Mass Resistance noted that move led Citrus County to become the first in Florida to abandon the ALA.
Android Users, Click To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Signup for our free newsletter.
We can’t do this without your help; visit our GiveSendGo page and donate any dollar amount; every penny helps