[Publib] Publib Pet Peeve and anti-gay protestors

[Roseanne Biver]

Ok PUBlibers we are heading once again into very dangerous territory with 
fact verses opinion.  Please keep your opinions to yourself and offer only 
the facts with regard to library policy and what you or you know other 
libraries have done in these similiar circumstances.   Your opinions and 
personal stories regarding homosexuals and their situations is not relevant 
to this thread.  The groups mentioned that give libraries a hard time have 
their own beliefs whether they are correct or not in the expression of that 
belief.  It's the ongoing problem in so many debates with so many issues.  
The arguments for or against an issue are out there, but are just not being 
made in the most effective way.      
 



-----Original Message-----
From: "George Hazelton" <ghazelton at mail.henry.public.lib.ga.us>
To: "'Connie Jo Ozinga'" <cjo at elkhart.lib.in.us>, "'publib'" 
<publib at webjunction.org>
Cc: 
Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:17:12 -0400
Subject: RE: [Publib] Publib Pet Peeve and anti-gay protestors


Hi Connie – 
 
I agree; if publib isn’t exactly what you want you can “grin and bear 
it,” or use that delete key, or find another venue.  Life is like that, we 
rarely get exactly what we want.
 
Ah, those “good Christians!”   Where is the love and forebearance?  Do 
they really think that anyone would willingly become a member of an 
oft-despised, oft-persecuted minority?  Who would just decide one fine 
morning to do that?  Of the few gays I’ve known who spoke about their 
travails, all went through a lot of difficulty coming out, both to others, 
family, and themselves.  The odds are good that some of these 
“Christians” have family members or friends who are gay; odds are good 
that some of them are themselves closeted gays or are supressing such 
tendencies. When I read of these folk with an apparent phone line to the 
Almighty I’m reminded of a line in the Rubiyiat which asks “what, did 
the Potter’s hand slip?”
 
Your board prez sounds like a worthy person in a difficult position.  Is 
there any legal means to stop what begins to sound like harrassment?  Does 
the local ACLU have any thoughts?  Have you contacted any of the gay support 
organizations for suggestions, perhaps Lambda Legal?  
 
Please keep us posted.  Good luck!
 
 



From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] 
On Behalf Of Connie Jo Ozinga
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2008 11:06 AM
To: publib
Subject: [Publib] Publib Pet Peeve and anti-gay protestors
 
“I just signed up for PubLib last week and am seriously considering 
reversing 
that decision.”
 
My pet peeve:  people who are new to the list who complain that publib 
isn’t what they expected, and we must change to make them happy.  We’ve 
had a couple of these recently.
 
I’ve been on this list for over ten years.  Sometimes we get goofy, 
sometimes, we argue, and we have many of the same conversations over and 
over and over again.  If publib isn’t what you expected you can sign off 
without complaining to the entire list.  Though I know you could care less 
if you make Connie crabby.  (Unlike my staff.)
 
I’m already crabby.  Last night the crew of good Christians (“all right 
thinking Christians would agree with us”) came once again to the board 
meeting to address their issue of books related to homosexuality being in 
our library.  As they started once again into their spiel about the public 
health issue of homosexuals in our community the board prez, shut them up:  
We listened to you two months ago, we responded in writing, and we are not 
willing to revisit this over and over again.  They wouldn’t shut up, one 
board member walked out, it was almost as exciting as the first time they 
came and three times as many representatives of the gay community showed up.
 
They have made it clear they intend to inspect every book in the 
children’s dept to make sure it deals with homosexuality appropriately – 
which means not at all. They will fill out recommended purchase forms for 
books about ex-gays and curing homosexuality, and now that they have had the 
process explained to them, I expect them to fill out a request for 
reconsideration form for every book related to homosexuality they can 
identify.
 
At the previous meeting they opened by announcing that if you searched 
homosexuality in the PAC you would receive over 300 hits.  In a tone and 
style that made it clear this was a very bad thing. And the Board Prez says, 
yes, that’s not many out of over 300,000 books.
 
So this is not going to stop, and in my middle age I am losing patience.  
I’ve been dealing with this stuff throughout my career, and I’m tired of 
it.  Getting my name in Rolling Stone due to such a battle was exciting when 
it happened, (I am right under the headline “Kurt Kobain recovers from 
suicide attempt”) but I would rather not have had the whole thing happen 
to begin with.  I’ve already won intellectual freedom award and have no 
desire to qualify for another.This current bunch come across to me as 
bigoted and intolerant, and I have to bite my tongue when dealing with them. 
 They also gave each board member a giant binder from NoSpecialRights.net, 
Lovingly opposing the homosexual agenda.  It appears this group formed in 
response to “homosexual activism at Notre Dame.”  (our neighbor to the 
west.)
 
So I have my own stress reduction techniques etc., and I expect I will get 
flamed by one or more of you for this, but any advice on making these people 
go away is welcome.  This seems to be an organized effort from a group 
called Citizens for Community Values in Indiana.  
 
If you have dealt organized groups on this topic I would love to hear from 
you.
 
Connie
 
Connie Jo Ozinga, Director  cjo at elkhart.lib.in.us 
(574)522-3333  www.myepl.org
Elkhart Public Library Elkhart, IN  46516
 
The Elkhart Public Library provides access to resources which inform, 
educate, enlighten and entertain our diverse community.....Books are just 
the beginning.
 
 
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