What makes the book Baby Be-Bop so special? Published in 1997, Baby Be-Bop is part of young adult writer Francesca Lia Block’s “Weetzie Bat” series and focuses on Weetzie’s best friend Dirk; the story is “a very sweet, simple, coming-of-age story about a young man’s discovery that he’s gay.” It also happens to be a title that a crazypants conservative organization in Wisconsin not only wants yanked from public libraries, but burned at the stake. Yes, really.
In the book, “Dirk is beaten by gay bashers but steadfastly clings to the possibility of finding love,” notes Salon. To a group calling themselves the West Bend Citizens for Safe Libraries, that’s enough to poison the minds of children! That’s why they wanted Baby and other gay-oriented books pulled from a list of suggested gay and lesbian titles; then they wanted the books removed from the youth section and placed in the adults aisle.
And then came the Christian Civil Liberties Union. Not satisfied with the library’s decision (they opted not to make any of the requested changes), the CCLU is suing the library for, among other things, “damaging” the “mental and emotional well-being” of library patrons. What’s their claim? Using a backdoor approach, CCLU insists the appearance of the word “nigger” in the book makes the book racist. Retorts Block: “Obviously I use those words, including ‘faggot,’ which is also in the book, to expose racism and homophobia, not promote it.”
If they get their way, the CCLU won’t just have the library’s only copy of the book removed from shelves, but “publicly burned.” Hey, maybe we can use Glenn Beck’s book as kindling?
How about we take this to the next level?
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galefan2004
This is funny. Even in the book is racist it still gets to be upheld under freedom of speech. It would be hilarious if this made it all the way to the USSC and they had to vote one way or the other. I like how the library is sticking to its guns and going to court on this matter.
Andrew
“Christian Civil Liberties Union” — Honestly, what a f*cking joke.
Alex
Hmm, I hope they’re also advocating the burning of Huck Finn, since it contains the same offensive, damaging word. I mean, I don’t actually want that, since book burning is terrible and the very names of these institutions make me want to sell all my worldly possessions, move to the Castro and live on the street as a rent boy just to get away from these kind of people.
PJ
I think they should be burning the Bible with Block’s book. I mean, if a coming-of-age book about a being gay is so offensive and the fact that the author uses vernacular which shows bigotry, why should they allow a book that promotes genocide, hypocrisy, murder, incest, wife and child abuse, slavery and a list of other social ills. Maybe the CCCU (ridiculous organization to begin with) should be reading their own book and what is says about slavery before condemning a book that tries to show the ills of the society it is reflecting.
(Note to nutcases: I don’t condone book burning; not even the Bible. I am trying to make a point so please keep you “righteous outrage” to yourself.)