Alabama’s Gay Book Ban

There are some things about Alabama, and the south, which I will not miss. Rampant bigotry and ignorance is one of them. Wouldn’t you know, we even elected a few of these types to our state legislature. One of these less-than-enlightened legislators, Gerald Allen (R, of course), doesn’t think that public school libraries ought to be able to buy books by or about gays. He feels this so strongly, in fact, that he proposed a bill.

Republican Alabama lawmaker Gerald Allen says homosexuality is an unacceptable lifestyle. As CBS News Correspondent Mark Strassmann reports, under his bill, public school libraries could no longer buy new copies of plays or books by gay authors, or about gay characters.

“I don’t look at it as censorship,” says State Representative Gerald Allen. “I look at it as protecting the hearts and souls and minds of our children.”

Two words for you, Mr. Republican: Small. Government. Frankly, I’m not really sure how I feel about the constitutionality of the bill… my initial instinct is that this is patently wrong, but “patently wrong” doesn’t really mean “unconstitutional.” After all, the bill doesn’t ban them from collegiate or public libraries (any more). Anyway, that doesn’t matter, the bill failed — what concerns me more than the actual bill is this:

But in book after book, Allen reads what he calls the “homosexual agenda,” and he’s alarmed.

“It’s not healthy for America, it doesn’t fit what we stand for,” says Allen. “And they will do whatever it takes to reach their goal.”

Now, I’m not exactly a regular at the gay bars here in Tuscaloosa (do we have any?), but I’ve met my share of “those people”… and never once has anyone tried to convert me. I’ve never overheard a group of gays planning to head down to the local grade school at recess to try to encourage the little boys to skip more, use effeminate arm gestures, or color coordinate their wardrobes. In fact, the closest thing to an “agenda” I’ve ever come into personal contact with was one gay male who thought I was cute. As best I could tell, his “agenda” involved liquoring me up and taking advantage of me… and I don’t think he would’ve done that by writing a novel.

I’ve never met a gay person who proselytized homosexuality. In fact, I think the only folks with “gay agendas” are the drunk, straight guys who encourage girls to make out with each other in bars… and, really, who’s going to complain about that?