In Bentonville, Arkansas, Earl Adams says his two teenage boys, ages 14 and 16, were perusing the local library shelves when they accidentally ran across a copy of “The Whole Lesbian Sex Book”, for which traumatization they deserve $10,000 apiece. It happened, Adams said, while they were browsing for material on military academies (titter ye not!) and the shock to their sensibilities from exposure to the “immoral” volume resulted in the boys being “greatly disturbed” and undergoing “many sleepless nights in our house.” According to the Washington Post, Library Journal has deemed the sex guide by Felice Newman suitable for public libraries. (Emil Steiner, “Off/Beat: Arkansas Dad Sues Library Over Lesbian Book”, Washington Post, Apr. 25; “Father Says Sons Traumatized By Lesbian Library Book”, 365gay.com, Apr. 20).
Saw sex book by mistake; $10K apiece demanded
In Bentonville, Arkansas, Earl Adams says his two teenage boys, ages 14 and 16, were perusing the local library shelves when they accidentally ran across a copy of “The Whole Lesbian Sex Book”, for which traumatization they deserve $10,000 apiece. It happened, Adams said, while they were browsing for material on military academies (titter ye […]
9 Comments
I think someone needs to teach these boys how the Dewey Decimal System works. Our local library used to have an adult section until people started complaining that it was a form of censorship and caused embarassment to ask for the key to the room.
Traumatized is hardly the word, although they may indeed have spent sleepless nights because of this book.
I can’t stop laughing at the “many sleepless nights” quote.
Any 14 or 16 year-old boy who is so offended by images of the nature described needs some serious therapy.
What sore of sheltered lives have these poor lads been living?
Teen-age boys accidentally finding books in the library on sex belongs on the same list with unicorns and leprechauns.
This claim has merit.
It should be joined by the huge class of little kids getting indoctrinated in their junior high school health classes, on the proper techniques of anal sex.
Geez, no one has grasped the real question here. Why should a public library even keep such excrement on its shelves?
It is a book. From reading the amazon review, it doesn’t sound nearly as explicit as stuff like the Joy of Sex, which I believe many libraries have. Maybe some patrons asked for it? Anyway, I think the library should try to provide a wide range of books. As long as it isn’t pronographic in its sexual depictions, then no harm.
But me and my coworkers did get a good laught out the sleepless nights quote also! I can just imagine!
I mean, 14 and 16! Come on, the dad should feel sorry for putting his boys through this shame. I can just imagine their friends teasing them “Can’t stand to look at a girl huh?” I hope they get nothing, the libraries need money and should be spending it to placate people who can’t be bothered to just talk to their children as opposed to assuming their children will never see anything they dissaprove of.
Our library in the liberal 70s kept such items under lock and key and ONLY with
a legitimate ID showing the bearer to be OVER 21
could such material be accessed. The library?
Named after John Steinbeck, noted supporter of Lyndon Baines Johnson.
That also inclued Ms magazine.