Library Battle Over Gay Newspapers Heats Up

ARLINGTON, OHIO - Parents and concerned citizens say they don’t want gay newspapers in the lobby of their library.
Walk into the Upper Arlington Public Library in Ohio and you’ll be confronted by a gay newspaper that routinely has graphic sexual content. The Outlook Weekly is in a rack in the lobby that holds other free community papers. Library trustee Bryce Kurfees is worried that young eyes could get more than they can handle from the Outlook and he wants the paper removed. He’s especially concerned because the library shares its parking lot with an elementary school a scant hundred yards away.
“What I want to do with them is toss them out. There’s no reason that we need to accept free newspapers that are just dropped off at our front door, especially ones that are obscene.”
Kurfees isn’t the only one complaining. The American Library Association reports that attempts to remove gay themed literature are on the rise around the country, increasing by more than twenty percent in a single year. The ACLU, which did not return our calls for comment, is threatening a lawsuit if he does. Kurfees is determined not to give in
“And I’m concerned that if we can’t draw a line at pornographic articles, then it appears that we can’t draw the line anywhere.”
Alan Chambers of the ex-gay ministry Exodus says homosexuals use these periodicals mainly for one purpose.
“The way I see gay newspapers is they are a means for mostly homosexuals to hook up with other homosexuals or materials that promote pornography.”
He knows from experience that certain young men are vulnerable to this sort of pornography.
“A young person could find and look through and eventually get involved in something that was detrimental or dangerous to his health and his well being.”
And a dangerous lifestyle is the last thing a boy should be checking out of the library.
from Family News In Focus