Scrotum-obsessed GOP congressional candidate Derrick Van Orden became a laughing stock this week when he was outed as a petulant manchild and a raging homophobe by a teen librarian.
Speaking to her local newspaper, 18-year-old Kerrigan Trautsch talked about how the 51-year-old stormed into the Prairie Chien Memorial Library in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin on June 17 and threw a dramatic hissy fit over a display of LGBTQ-affirming children’s books she had set out for Pride month.
Now, the library director, Nancy Ashmore, tells People that Van Orden actually came in three times that day–first to throw the temper tantrum, then to open a library account and check out all but one of the gay books, and then to return them after he had presumably finished reading them.
“He was upset when he came in the first time,” Ashmore said. “When he came back later in the day, he was much more reasonable and calm.”
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Related: GOP candidate obsessed with scrotums throws hissy fit over gay book display in public library
One of the books Van Orden was most upset about was the picture book “A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo,” which is a parody the former second lady Karen Pence‘s picture book about her husband’s real-life pet rabbit.
The picture book, which was an instant bestseller when it was first released in 2018, criticizes Pence’s anti-LGBTQ views by detailing the same-sex romance between Marlon Bundo and another bunny rabbit.
Van Orden filed a filed an official “statement of concern” with the library, in which he called the book “historically inaccurate” and “propaganda.”
When asked by People about the complaint, Ashmore had the perfect response: “He’s quite right, it’s not factual. But it’s not supposed to be. It’s fiction.”
After the story broke, Van Orden put out a statement saying he “unequivocally support[s] equal rights for all Americans.” He just doesn’t support same-sex love stories about cartoon bunny rabbits, which he says “degrade the relationships we have as citizens.”
Despite Van Orden’s objections, Ashmore, who has worked at the library for 30 years, says she has no plans to discontinue the Pride month display next June.
“The display grows every year, because we keep getting more materials,” she said. “It will keep getting bigger. It’s something we do every year, and we intend to keep doing.”
In addition to being an aspiring politician, Van Orden is the author of 2015’s “Book of Man: A Navy Seal’s Guide to the Lost Art of Manhood,” which includes a chapter where he writes in vivid detail about another man’s scrotum.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
AxelDC
What a grandstanding imbecile! I’ll give him my best librarian response:
SHUSH!
Sanjo
Ha!
Max
the relationship with citizens should be about respect and kindness. not yell at librarians and strip choice (of books) from others.
wikidBSTN
Gotta admit – those wacky Republicans keep us amused.
Kangol2
Amused is one of putting it. On the edge of a fascist takeover is another!
Kevan1
Closet gay. Wrote an extensive chapter about a man’s scrotum. The most outraged people and violent tend to end up in gay scandals or male on male rape perpetrated by them. He is just a self loathing closet queen.
letthemeatcake
Historically, it has been unequivocally proven that individuals who so strongly oppose the gay lifestyle—especially clergy members or politicians, are severely afflicted closet cases themselves. The fact that he’s obsessed with male genitalia should remove any doubts for even the most casual observer.
whereshouldistart
I’ll say it again…
It’s the squeaky wheel that craves the K-Y.
Cam
And he rushed home and furiously abused himself to his 30 year old copy of Playgirl he keeps hidden under the floorboards.
Sanjo
Preferably, rather than with the children’s books he checked out.
Celtic
This guy is a queer in denial
KerryB
If you want to make his head explode, just tell him that all the gay books he just checked out are on his permanent record. BTW, I’m being facetious.
radiooutmike
But you’re not wrong!
My2CentsWorth
That was my thinking. Why would a man be interested in observing and writing about another man’s nut sack?