{"id":2072540,"date":"2023-10-19T02:54:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T06:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/huntington-beach-to-screen-childrens-library-books-for-inappropriate-sexual-content\/"},"modified":"2023-10-19T02:56:49","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T06:56:49","slug":"huntington-beach-to-screen-childrens-library-books-for-inappropriate-sexual-content","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/huntington-beach-to-screen-childrens-library-books-for-inappropriate-sexual-content\/","title":{"rendered":"Huntington Beach to Review Kids&#8217; Library Books for Inappropriate Content"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhuntington-beach-to-screen-childrens-library-books-for-inappropriate-sexual-content%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2072540&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>A Community Panel \u2063to Determine Library\u2064 Books in Huntington \u200cBeach<\/h2>\n<p>A panel of Huntington Beach community \u2062members will soon have the power \u200bto decide \u2064which books make it into the city&#8217;s libraries, with \u2063the goal of keeping sexually inappropriate content out of the children&#8217;s section. This \u2063resolution, passed by \u200bthe council&#8217;s\u2063 conservative\u200d majority\u200d on October 17, \u2063establishes a \u200b21-member panel of community members\u200c who will \u2063oversee the books in the\u2064 city&#8217;s\u2064 five libraries.\u200c Each council member will appoint three individuals to serve on the panel.<\/p>\n<p>Under the new rule, children will no longer\u200b have \u2062direct access \u2064to books or materials with any sexual content. \u200dParental consent \u2062will be required to access such materials, and books\u2063 containing sexual content will be relocated \u2063to the adult\u2064 section.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/huntington-beach-advances-ordinance-screening-childrens-library-books-for-obscene-content-5348332?<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/jacob-siegel-on-disinformation-the-hoax-of-the-century-part-1\/\" title=\"Jacob Siegel discusses disinformation and refers to it as the 'Hoax of the Century' in Part 1.\">ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories<\/a>&#8220;><strong>Huntington Beach\u200d Advances Ordinance Screening Children\u2019s Library Books for \u2018Obscene\u2019 Content<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; 6\/21\/2023<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-city-declares-itself-a-no-mask-and-no-vaccine-mandate-city-5507066?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><strong>California \u2063City Declares Itself a \u2018No Mask\u2062 and \u2063No Vaccine Mandate City\u2019<\/strong><\/a>  &#8211; 10\/9\/2023<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Councilwoman Gracey Van Der\u2063 Mark,\u2064 the initiator \u200bof\u200c this resolution, responded to concerns raised by community \u2063members\u2062 regarding sexually explicit books in\u200d the children&#8217;s section of the libraries. \u200cDuring\u200b the meeting, she emphasized the importance of \u200ccreating\u2063 a safe environment\u200b for children and proposed moving sexually explicit books to the adult section.<\/p>\n<p>The\u200c meeting lasted \u200cover five hours as numerous community members voiced their opinions. Supporters of the resolution expressed gratitude towards Ms. Van Der Mark and the council majority for their efforts to protect children from explicit\u2062 material \u2064and involve the community in the decision-making process.<\/p>\n<p>However, \u2064opponents of the resolution likened it to\u2063 a &#8220;book ban,&#8221; arguing that\u2062 it restricts access to certain books.\u200c One \u2064resident \u2064stated, \u200c&#8221;The proposed resolution\u2062 effectively calls\u200d for\u200b a process to \u200dban books.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Huntington Beach Public\u2064 Library in Huntington Beach, Calif., on June 21, 2023. (Julianne\u200d Foster\/The Epoch\u2063 Times)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">In response to the resolution, several <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/heres-why-disney-employees-are-walking-out-across-the-country\/\" title=\"Here\u2019s Why Disney Employees Are Walking Out Across the Country\">human rights advocacy groups<\/a>, \u200dincluding The First Amendment Coalition, the ACLU of\u200c Southern California, and \u200bthe Freedom to \u200dRead Foundation, <a href=\"https:\/\/huntingtonbeach.legistar.com\/View.ashx?M=F&#038;ID=12376789&#038;GUID=A288E232-22D1-43CD-A973-6CC1846676E9\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wrote a letter<\/a> \u200bto \u200dthe council. They argued that the resolution constituted government overreach and violated free speech rights.<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;While no \u2064one can\u200b be forced to read\u200d a library book to\u200d which they object, no one has the \u2063right to subject, through force of \u200bgovernment, the entire community to their narrow and arbitrary view of what books are acceptable for\u2063 minors of any age to read,&#8221; stated the \u200dgroups in their \u2064letter on October\u2063 17.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">The establishment\u200b of the panel \u2063is \u2063a result of \u2064a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/huntington-beach-advances-ordinance-screening-childrens-library-books-for-obscene-content-5348332\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">proposal<\/a> introduced \u2062by Ms. Van\u200b Der Mark in June. The proposal directed \u200ccity staff\u200b to develop various methods for screening library books \u2063and\u200c present them to the board in the fall.<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">During the \u2063June meeting, Ms. Van Der Mark showcased a <a href=\"https:\/\/huntingtonbeach.legistar.com\/View.ashx?M=F&#038;ID=12104343&#038;GUID=25CCB46C-7FA6-41B0-9032-1D5F5F6C9381\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">slideshow<\/a> featuring several\u2062 examples of what she deemed inappropriate books from the children&#8217;s and teens&#8217; sections of \u200cthe city&#8217;s libraries.<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">One of the books, titled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Grandads-Pride-Camper-Harry-Woodgate-ebook\/dp\/B0B3Y8PCY2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Granddad&#8217;s Pride<\/a>, aimed at children aged \u20643\u20136, depicts a young child at a Pride parade witnessing two men\u2062 engaging in public fondling \u2062while wearing harnesses.<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">Another book, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Gender-Queer-Memoir-Maia-Kobabe-ebook\/dp\/B09Y9HLGN2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gender Queer<\/a>, \u200da graphic illustrated memoir for grades 7\u201312, explores the author&#8217;s journey of self-discovery regarding sexuality, including topics such as gender dysphoria, masturbation, sex toys, and sexual acts.<\/div>\n<p>One scene in this book,\u2064 censored by Ms. Van Der\u2062 Mark, graphically depicts\u2064 full nudity and characters engaging in oral sex.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">Furthermore, a book called <a href=\"https:\/\/books.google.com\/books\/about\/The_V_Word.html?id=DFZ2CwAAQBAJ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The V Word<\/a> \u2064provides explicit descriptions of female-on-female oral sex and \u2062other \u2062sexual acts, while the \u200cbook &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/X-All-You-Need-Know-Progressive-Sexuality\/dp\/1600940102\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">S.E.X.<\/a>&#8221; \u2063describes and illustrates disturbing sexual acts, according to\u200b Ms. \u200cVan Der Mark.<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How \u2062does \u2063the ordinance aimed at \u2063preventing children from accessing\u2064 sexually explicit material\u2064 in libraries \u2062balance \u200bthe protection of children and the principles of free speech?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Creening-childrens-library-books-for-obscene-content-5348332?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories&#8221; \u2062target=&#8221;_blank&#8221; rel=&#8221;noopener&#8221;>recently passed ordinance<\/a>\u2062 \u2063in Huntington Beach, aimed at preventing children from accessing sexually \u2064explicit material in libraries. The ordinance\u2063 garnered significant attention and\u2063 sparked a heated debate among community members, leading to the formation of the\u200c community panel.\u200c The role \u200cof this panel will be to review and approve books that will be included in the\u2062 city&#8217;s libraries, ensuring that they are\u2064 appropriate for children.<\/div>\n<p>Proponents of the\u2063 resolution argue that it is necessary \u200dto protect children from inappropriate content and create a safe environment for them in public spaces. \u200bThey believe that allowing sexually explicit books\u200b in the children&#8217;s section \u2063can have \u200da negative impact on their development and well-being. \u2064By relocating such books to the adult\u200d section,\u2062 they aim to provide parents with more control over the \u2064materials accessed\u2064 by their children.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\">\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Interior of a library \u2062with shelves full of books. (Pixabay)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>However, opponents see the resolution as an infringement on free speech rights and argue that it restricts access to certain books. They believe that \u200cparents should \u2064have the \u2063freedom to\u2062 decide what is appropriate for their \u2063own children and that\u200c the government should \u200dnot \u200bintervene in this matter. The letter from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/huntington-beach-to-screen-childrens-library-books-for-inappropriate-sexual-content\/\" title=\"Huntington Beach to Review Kids' Library Books for Inappropriate Content\">human rights advocacy groups highlights<\/a> \u2063the potential violation of free speech rights and\u2062 calls for a broader perspective in considering what books\u2063 are acceptable for minors.<\/p>\n<p>The establishment of the community\u200d panel aims to address both sides of the argument by involving \u2062community members \u2064in\u2064 the decision-making process. The panel will consist of individuals appointed by \u200deach\u2063 council\u2063 member, ensuring diverse representation and a range of perspectives. The inclusion of community\u2064 members in this panel ensures that\u2063 the \u200cdecision-making \u2064process is not solely dependent\u200d on the council&#8217;s conservative majority.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2064 is important \u2064to note that while the resolution\u2063 focuses\u200b on sexually explicit content, it does\u2063 not restrict access to \u2063all \u200dbooks or limit the \u200dfreedom to read. \u2063The intent is to relocate books with \u200csexual content to the adult\u200c section and require parental \u200cconsent for access, rather than banning them \u2064outright. This approach allows for a balance between \u2062protecting\u2064 children and respecting \u200cfreedom of speech.<\/p>\n<p>As the community panel\u2064 begins its work, \u200cit will face\u2064 the task of\u200d reviewing and approving books for the city&#8217;s \u2063libraries. Their role is crucial\u200b in ensuring\u200b that the materials available \u200bto children\u200d are appropriate and align with the community&#8217;s values and standards. \u2063The panel&#8217;s decisions\u2063 should be guided by \u2064an objective evaluation \u200dof \u200deach book&#8217;s\u200d content rather than personal biases or preferences.<\/p>\n<p>The formation of the community panel in Huntington Beach\u2062 reflects \u200bthe ongoing\u200c debate surrounding the presence \u200bof sexually explicit material \u200cin public\u200b spaces. It represents a proactive step\u200d towards finding \u200ca middle ground that takes into account the concerns of both sides. Ultimately, the panel&#8217;s success \u2064will hinge on its ability \u2063to \u2062uphold the principles of free speech while also prioritizing the protection and well-being of children.<\/p>\n<p>It remains to be seen how the community \u200cpanel&#8217;s \u2062decisions \u200bwill be received and whether they will strike a balance that satisfies both supporters and opponents of the \u200cresolution. The process to determine library books in Huntington\u200d Beach has\u2064 entered a new phase, characterized by community involvement and collective decision-making.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>book selection for Huntington Beach libraries. The panel&#8217;s objective is to prevent sexually inappropriate content from reaching the children&#8217;s section. This resolution, endorsed by the council&#8217;s conservative majority on Oct. 17, establishes a 21-member community panel to oversee the process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":433,"featured_media":2072541,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2072540","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2072540","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/433"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2072540"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2072540\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2072541"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2072540"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2072540"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2072540"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}