Fact Check: Freedom Fathers Claim False Victory

06/26/23: This post has been updated to include the Executive Library Director’s decision to keep the materials shelved as is. The challenges can now be appealed to the Library Board of Trustees for a final decision. Send Bob a thank you letter/email and be sure to copy the trustees so they see your support!

On June 2nd, Aaron Wood declared “WE ARE WINNING” to his Facebook page, exhorting his followers to take continued action and “Appeal! Appeal! Appeal!”

Wood also shared a new misleading piece of propaganda in which three books (Gender Queer, Let’s Talk About It and This Book is Gay) are depicted behind bars.

Independent Colorado journalist Joy Overbeck quickly shared the fake news to her own Facebook, falsely asserting that the library moved three challenged titles to the adult section due to complaints.

The Facts

As Kelly Jensen at Book Riot already explained in a close-read of the last “Freedom” Fathers flier, the library does not have child pornography. That would be illegal. Obscene materials targeted at or depicting children would never make it through the publishing system, let alone be purchased by libraries nationwide.

Here’s another blatant lie: none of these books have been removed or re-shelved in a different collection. In fact, Gender Queer is an adult graphic novel! The other two titles (This Book is Gay and Let’s Talk About It) were also already shelved with the adult collection. Due to its small size, the young adult nonfiction collection is interfiled with adult nonfiction at Douglas County Libraries. As Executive Library Director Bob explained to Colorado Newsline, “Their compromise is already common practice.”

Here’s how the library has actually responded to the appeals received so far:

The Library Director also declined to restrict, relabel, relocate or remove the challenges appealed thus far:

We’ve got facts and the First Amendment on our side. The book banners have nothing but baseless propaganda.

How Can You Help?

The appeal can now be escalated to the library board of trustees for a final decision. That’s why it’s so important for the library board to hear from YOU. Don’t let loud voices and hate speak for our community!

Save the date for the next board business meeting on Wednesday, June 28th at the Castle Pines Library. Can’t come in person to make a public comment? Send a letter or email with one of our templates!