Clean Up Alabama call to jail librarians for giving LGBT books to kids

Residents associated with the Clean Up Alabama movement called to imprison librarians in response to displaying what they consider inappropriate materials for minors in public libraries during a council meeting on September 5th. While the group’s initial focus was local, in Pratville it has unveiled a broader three-pronged strategy aimed at reshaping library policies across the entire state. The group, using similar tactics to other far right groups across the US, told the council that their solutions were a “common sense” approach.

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Clean Up Alabama’s objectives encompass dissociating the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) from the American Library Association (ALA) and, more controversially, altering the legal landscape surrounding LGBTQ+ literature in libraries. As a result, the group’s proposals have sparked intense debate and raised concerns about censorship and the freedom to access diverse literature.

Who are Clean Up Alabama?

Not to be confused with the environmental group Alabama's Coastal Cleanup, Clean Up Alabama believes that parents should wield the ultimate authority when it comes to deciding when and how their children are introduced to sensitive topics, even within the confines of public library collections.

Clean Up Alabama's agenda can be distilled into four core objectives:

Purge of explicit content. At the forefront of their agenda is a call for the immediate removal of books bearing explicit, obscene, and indecent content from library sections designated for minors. Firmly asserting their rights as taxpayers, they argue that any literature containing such elements and targeted at a youthful audience should not be funded by public resources. Clean Up Alabama maintains that individuals seeking such materials should be responsible for procuring them using their personal finances.

Dissociation from the American Library Association. Clean Up Alabama takes an uncompromising stance against what they perceive as an association with the "far-left Marxist organization" known as the American Library Association. They demand an end to any collaboration or support provided to this entity.

Critical examination of curriculum. The group opposes the use of taxpayer funds to promote what they view as divisive ideologies, including critical race theory, in public schools and libraries. They seek transparency and accountability in educational programming to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not used to advance agendas that they deem controversial.

Parental first amendment right. Under the guise of the First Amendment, Clean Up Alabama upholds the rights of parents, contending that it is the prerogative of parents to decide what their children are exposed to within the realms of public schools and libraries.

The three key components of Clean Up Alabama’s plan are as follows:

1. Amend the anti-obscenity law. Clean Up Alabama seeks to modify Section 13A-12-200.5 of the Code of Alabama, which currently exempts “libraries and their employees or agents” from criminal penalties related to the distribution of materials harmful to minors. If successful, librarians could potentially face up to a year in jail and fines of up to $10,000 for having LGBTQ+ books accessible to minors. While the group has claimed this exemption could allow libraries to distribute sex toys to children, there is no evidence to support this assertion.
2. Incorporate libraries into existing legislation. Clean Up Alabama is considering extending legislation akin to Alabama’s version of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which restricts discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools. The proposal’s details remain unclear, leaving questions about how it would affect library materials and programs.
3. Modify HB401 to include public libraries. HB401, a bill that garnered attention for its potential impact on drag performances in public spaces, could be revisited. Clean Up Alabama appears to aim to expand the definition of “sexual conduct” within this bill to encompass LGBTQ+ content, thereby incorporating it into the definition of “harmful to minors.” This move could result in legal consequences for librarians who provide LGBTQ+ literature to minors.

Should Clean Up Alabama succeed in implementing these goals, librarians could find themselves in legal jeopardy for offering books that promote LGBTQ+ inclusivity. However, it is important to note that the definition of “material harmful to minors” in Alabama law already includes several criteria that seem to exclude many LGBTQ+ books from being categorised as such.

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In terms of political support, several state representatives have publicly expressed their backing for Clean Up Alabama’s objectives. This includes efforts to disassociate from the ALA and to restrict LGBTQ+ content in libraries. Among this base, Representative Susan Dubose was seen reposting content from Clean Up Alabama on her Twitter/X account. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey slamming Foley Public Library for controversial books on display. While these politicians support Clean Up Alabama’s cause, the broader public reaction to their proposals remains a topic of debate.

Hence, the controversy surrounding Clean Up Alabama’s plan highlights the ongoing struggle between freedom of expression and concerns about a far right agenda in public libraries. The outcome of these efforts could have far-reaching consequences for both librarians and the accessibility of LGBTQ+ literature to young readers in Alabama.