CV NEWS FEED // After Ferndale, Michigan locals Debra T. and Nick S. checked out almost every LGBTQ+ book from their library as part of the “Hide the Pride” campaign promoted by CatholicVote, the Ferndale Area District Library posted the incident on Facebook along with a wish list of sex- and gender-themed books.
“Hide the Pride” is designed to protect children from having access to the inappropriate books pushed at the public during Pride Month. The Ferndale Library was able to restock at least some of its Pride display by pulling from a back supply. But they also posted a request for locals to make donations to the library’s general LGBTQ+ collection to help fill their shelves again.
“YOU CAN HELP the library increase accessibility to these books in the future by purchasing any of the titles listed in our Amazon Wishlist,” the library posted:
Or, if you prefer to support an independent bookstore, we encourage you to shop locally for any of these titles and drop them off at a library service desk. We’ll be storing these extra copies in case this campaign of censorship continues. If you are able to help with the book drive, we encourage Ferndale residents to show their support by signing up for a library card or using the library during June. Your kind words and support of our staff will go a long way.
“Let’s send a message that Ferndale supports their library, its staff, and our LGBTQ+ neighbors,” the library concluded.
Books on the library wish list include sexually themed books targeting children, such as “You be You: The Kid’s Guide to Gender, Sexuality, and Family,” “The Book of Pride: LGBT Heroes Who Changed the World,” and “Unconditional: A Guide to Loving and Supporting Your LGBTQ Child.”
CatholicVote Vice President Joshua Mercer lauded the local effort to remove the books from the children’s section of the library. “There’s been a wonderful grassroots effort by parents to “Hide the Pride” and protect children from harmful filth in our public libraries,” Mercer said. “You would think this groundswell of opposition by parents would make librarians think twice about having these nasty X-rated books that are targeting our children.”
“But in Ferndale, Michigan, they are sadly doubling down and begging people to go to Amazon so they can restock the shelves with smut for kids,” he added. “Bizarre.”
