MT: Library Commissioners concerned about national association's new 'Marxist lesbian' president
The Montana State Library Commission will consider withdrawing from the American Library Association later this summer after a state commissioner raised concerns — splashed in right-wing media outlets — the president-elect is a “self-proclaimed Marxist.”
During the commission’s Thursday meeting, Commissioner Tom Burnett proposed the group hold a special meeting in the next three weeks to consider sending a letter withdrawing from the national association.
Other board members agreed the commission should hold a conversation about possible next steps, with the state librarian saying she had similar concerns but wanted to be mindful of the potential impact of losing the affiliation.
Libraries have come into the culture war crosshairs in recent years with right-leaning conspiracies falsely claiming the public service is harming children and claiming LGBTQ+ titles at the library are “grooming.” Related legislation has been introduced across the country.
After public outcry this legislative session, lawmakers amended a bill addressing the distribution of “obscene material,” targeting books like “Gender Queer,” to remove application to public and school libraries. Last year, the Library Commission initially voted down a redesign of its logo in part because the rainbow motif resembled the Pride flag.
In the past year, right-wing media outlets zeroed in on a tweet from ALA President-elect Emily Drabinski in which she identified herself as a “Marxist lesbian.” Some considered the proclamation to be evidence of a false narrative they have pushed surrounding libraries and grooming children.
https://dailymontanan.com/2023/06/22/library-commissioners-concerned-about-national-associations-new-marxist-lesbian-president/
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