Cork library staff being abused and intimidated over LGBT+ books

Its happening all over the country. Librarians are being harassed regularly.

Saw that happening the other day at my local library.

Two women made a formal complaint about the display of lgbt themed books and a rainbow flag.

Somebody think of the children and my auld mother kind of attitude.

Its a book about being lesbian, gay, bi, trans and is in the Young Adult section.

Harassment is ongoing

Gobshites protested GPO yesterday

Anyone in Cork please support

Intimidating staff like this seems repensible. But on the specific point of Juno Dawson’s book, some groups like Children’s Books Ireland have reversed their position on it.

Do you think it’s suitable for children , and if not why was it on children’s reading lists from junior infants upwards, and why is it in the children LGBTQ+ display in these libraries?

Perhaps a little more attention to detail here would help separate the extremists from people asking legitimate questions about what’s suitable material for children?

I’m not a subject matter on this controversy, but everything I’ve read up to this point has said that it’s “a young adult book”, but it was in lists which included “children”. E.g. 0-18

”a must-have for all school libraries”

https://www.anpost.com/AnPost/media/PDFs/CBI-Book-List-Rainbow-Reads-An-Post-FINAL-(1).pdf

Looking at more articles, it looks like the Irish libraries had placed it in the “12-14 sections”. And they are not backing down.

I know there’s more to the book than sex advice (although the excerpts online are mostly sex and sexuality advice) but this does seem a bit young for advice on sexting, hand jobs, blow jobs, anal, sex toys, and so forth.

with the caveat of them being aimed at age 18+ , it seems very pro hookup apps like Grindr as a way to meet people, tips on how the create the most attractive online dating profile. The main benefits being meeting lots people quickly, etc. I think IMHO that’s risky behaviour for 12 to 14 years olds - you don’t need to have kids to know about online safety and so on.

The bit about the 16 year old having an affair with a married man, going back to his place and so on, was… eye opening. While ages of consent can be vary between jurisdictions and people can mature at different ages etc, I think IMHO they are necessary to protect younger people from exploitation. And, from a purely legal point of view, in Ireland 16 is below the age of consent. So more food for thought.

maybe the libraries should just admit they made a mistake, say sorry, and move it to an older section. This would take most of the wind out of the protests, and I think most reasonable people would agree with this.

Or is there something else I’m missing here?

Stop this intimidating behaviour bullying people in their workplace first.

Then let a discussion take place.

Are only certain people allowed to protest? (ie the people who agree with your views)

Fair play to Dan Boyle calling it out

This has been going on for many many months. Its easy enough to find all the links yourself.

It doesn't matter. We don't have censorship and we trust librarians to do their job.

People exaggerate stuff all the time. So yes, in this day and age, in a public building with cameras, when everyone has their own camera, surely there is a video going around of these monsters who have been there multiple times now.

There's many links to articles in the thread. It's easy enough to find further links yourself. Your attempts to claim none of this ever happened are pathetic.

Why would I think that? I’m not totally familiar with the Bible, but I know the Old Testament is certainly unsuitable for children. Possibly parts of the New Testament like the Crucifixion and Revelation (both should be fine for 12-14 age group) but it’s ages since I read about all that and I’m in no hurry to revisit it.

Its just lazily idiotic to assume that because someone questions the wisdom of a book giving advice on handjobs, blowjobs and setting up Grindr profiles etc, for the 12 to 14 age group - then that person is some American Baptist stereotype.

what age do you think people should investigate Grindr? :)

So cannibalism, torture and incest are good topics for 12 year olds?

The usual small pack of losers taking a day off from harassing refugees, to get back to their usual MO of trying to link homosexuality with grooming.

Articles are not evidence. It's very telling that not one person seems to have recorded videos of the monsters. The only video on YouTube I can find is a demonstration supporting the library. But how on earth is there no video of the abuse and hate crimes so it can be passed onto gardai?

They closed the library yes. Lots of protests and even parades can be intimidating. But there is usually a video or two of the shocking behaviour doing the rounds. Would just like to see that. How many goons have been arrested so far?

You are using the same arguments the far right are using when they decide the Iris Nation needs chaperoning.

You keep saying you don't know but then give an opinion. I've read the books- I used their list and bought them all.

I've stood in front of a Library and tried to prevent these people getting in to harass staff.

I worked in the public library service for a decade.

I've also checked the lists of which books are available for straight kids, and I knew which books were there for the decade I worked there.

You casually suggest that 12-14 year olds have access to inappropriate books - they don't. They have the same access to these books as they would to any of the other sex education books (most, by the way, have much more explicit diagrams in full colour).

Teens aren't in need of your protection or that of thugs harassing library staff on their way home from the anti immigrant protests.

LGBTQ+ teens are the ones needing protection from wolves in sheep's clothing who are extremely concerned and 'just asking questions' about their lives whilst having absolutely no interest whatsoever in the lives of straight teens.

We all see what's going on here.

Why couldn’t the guards just take down that banner on Saturday? It’s illegal to put a banner on a public building so take it down.

I don't feel embarrassed. I'll say again how is there not a single video of this illegal behaviour? If there is evidence why has nobody been arrested?

They would have video surveillance in a public library I'm fairly certain so if illegal activity takes place they can report it to the gardai instead of the papers.

That's the last I'll say on it unless evidence comes to light. I think I've made my point one too many times so I'll jog on.

There's your video evidence; videos of homophobia, transphobia, harassment and ripping up books

Video of transphobic and homophobic abuse calling people groomers

Abusing staff - telling them they are grooming

Threats made to librarian

Screaming abuse in Tralee

Tearing up books in Cork Library