No "Joy" in Topeka

Here we go again. Just when you thought it was safe to go out into America….

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that, “The covers will be pulled over four sex-related books at the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. The library’s board of trustees voted 5-3 Thursday evening in favor of restricting minors’ access to “Sex for Busy People,” “The Lesbian Kama Sutra,” “The Joy of Sex” and “The Joy of Gay Sex” because they deemed the material “harmful to minors.”

The initial complaint was filed by patron Kim Borchers, who represents a group called Kansans for Commons Sense Policy. Borchers wrote that the materials were harmful to minors under Kansas law.

The Board held a three hour meeting, listening to sixteen people speak on the issue, fourteen of whom were opposed to the censoring of titles in the public library. Jason Chaika, vice chairman of the Topeka chapter of the Kansas Equality Coalition, said, “There is not a librarian’s desk big enough to hide all the books that someone may find objectionable. If we allow individuals or groups to dictate what materials will be restricted, we may just as well rename this library ‘Fred Phelps Center for Indoctrination.”

The Capital-Journal goes on to report, “Topeka lawyer Pedro Irigonegaray, who was present at the meeting, said the board’s decision will bring about lawsuits. He said he already has been approached by people who want to initiate a lawsuit. “Unfortunately,” he said, “we are seeing what can happen when a small but committed minority decides to take action, and it is now up to the good people of Topeka to join together and say no to this insanity. This is about freedom.”

Well, the Library’s move certainly caught the attention of their fellow countrymen. The American Association of Publishers, PEN American Center, The Freedom to Read Foundation and the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression have joined together in sending a letter of protest on the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library’s censorship of sex ed materials. Their letter reads, in part: “We agree with those who view the board’s action as fundamentally at odds with the role of a public library in providing the information that its patrons require as individuals, community members and citizens…..We strongly urge you to protect the right of all readers to read and think freely, and to reject the notion that the choices made by any one reader may be imposed on any other. By returning The Joy of Sex and the other books to the open shelves, you will demonstrate respect for your patrons and their choices; for the professionalism of the librarians who serve the reading public; and for the First Amendment and its central role in a pluralistic, democratic society.”

Amen.