1-04-2005
In Montgomery, Alabama, Rep. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale sought to ban gay marriage. With that topic taken care of, he's taking it even further. His next target? Homosexual characters in books found in public libraries, even university libraries.
At a press recent press conference, Allen said "Our culture, how we know it today, is under attack from every angle." The bill Representative Allen proposes would prohibit the use of public funds for "the purchase of textbooks or library materials that recognize or promote homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle." He continued, saying that the bill will protect future children from the homosexual agenda.
If the bill is passed, any fictional book containing homosexual or bisexual characters and any college textbook that suggests that homosexuality is natural will be destroyed. Additionally, public school textbooks could not discuss homosexuality as a genetic trait.
When asked what would happen to these books, Allen said "I guess we dig a big hole, dump them in and bury them."
"It sounds like Nazi book burning to me," said Mark Potok, a Montgomery-based Southern Poverty Law Center spokesman.
Allen's bill was pre-filed in advance for the 2005 legislative session, which begins February 1.
Additionally, the bill seeks to ban any materials which include or promote the homosexual lifestyle or actions which Alabama prohibits, including sodomy. Any book containing descriptions of these acts would be banned as well.
Furthermore, teachers in public schools would be prohibited from bringing in speakers who suggest homosexuality is ok, and from bringing in any materials on that topic to hand out to students.
Juanita Owes, director of the Montgomery City-County Library, says that the bill, if passed, could be very difficult to enforce. "Half the books in the library could end up being banned. It's all based on how one interprets the material," said Owes.
If passed, classics containing gay characters would be removed, such as Alice Walker's The Color Purple. Apparently, plays such as Cat on a Hot Tin Roof could no longer be performed. And what of books like Huck Finn and Lord of the Rings, in which it has been theorized that the characters have more than a platonic relationship? How far will this go?
Gay Book Ban - by Christine Watson Top of the Guide
Le ''législateur'' (lawmaker) républicain Gerald Allen (Alabama), veut faire voter dans son État une proposition de loi interdisant aux bibliothèques scolaires publiques d'acheter des livres mettant en scène (ou écrits par) des homosexuels. Cela concerne Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote et Gore Vidal et ''la Couleur pourpre'' d'Alice Walker car il présente des personnages homosexuels. M. Allen voulait aussi interdire certains livres de Shakespeare mais, après réflexion, il a décidé d'exclure les classiques de sa proposition de loi sans pour autant donner une définition de ''livre classique''.