Thursday, April 21, 2011

Religious viewpoint at the zoo

The children's book And Tango Makes Three about gay penguins is again at the top of the frequently challenged library books. It has been in the 1st or 2nd position for 5 years now. Here is a list of the top 10 books along with the reasons why they are challenged.

The reasons why the gay penguin book is challenged includes "Religious Viewpoint." A couple other books are also tagged with that reason. I haven't read the book, but can't imagine a story of Central Park Zoo penguins mention much, if any, religion. Does it mean it is targeted because anything gay is automatically a viewpoint against Fundie Christianity?

Barbara Jones, director of the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom, put it this way, "While we firmly support the right of every reader to choose or reject a book for themselves or their families, those objecting to a particular book should not be given the power to restrict other readers’ right to access and read that book."

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