Concerns about LGBT books promoting pedophilia, grooming prompt 4 states to sever ties with American Library Association

By Samantha Kamman, Christian Post Reporter Friday, September 15, 2023

Missouri

Following a presentation this summer by ALA’s director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom, Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft announced that his office would no longer support the library group. 

In a July letter, Ashcroft alleged that Caldwell-Stone encouraged libraries to “exploit loopholes” to prevent certain events from taking place at the library. According to Ashcroft, this includes faith-based story hours. 

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“The Missouri Secretary of State’s office, which administers the Missouri State Library, cannot continue to support an organization that does not protect the First Amendment rights of Missourians and refuses to follow its own governing documents,” the Missouri Secretary of State wrote.

“Therefore, I have instructed my staff to discontinue any future financial payments to the American Library Association,” he continued. “My hope is that you (ALA) reconsider this blatantly political stance, abide by your own principles, and protect the rights of Missourians.” 

As CP previously reported, Christian actor Kirk Cameron and his publisher, Brave Books, called for an investigation into the ALA, alleging that Caldwell-Stone had advised libraries on how to find ways to block his event. The Texas-based First Liberty Institute sent a letter to the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington, D.C., on behalf of Cameron and Brave Books, requesting a federal investigation into the ALA. 

In a statement to CP at the time, Cameron said that the ALA had issued advisories to multiple libraries throughout the country to "block" his nationwide "See You at the Library" event on Aug. 5. 

"First Liberty and I have launched an investigation with the federal government to hold the American Library Association accountable for their religious discrimination, willful violation of the constitution and the ALA's own internal rules to allegedly protect ALL people's access to public libraries. Accountability is coming," the actor said. 

In a statement to CP, an ALA spokesperson said that the "Libraries and the First Amendment" presentation by Caldwell-Stone has been presented for nearly a decade. The spokesperson added that the presentation discusses the public library's status as a limited public forum.” 

According to the spokesperson, Caldwell-Stone’s presentation referenced an interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights, which states that publicly funded libraries do not have to provide meeting room space to the public.

“If libraries choose to do so, such spaces are considered designated public forums, and legal precedent holds that libraries may not exclude any group based on the subject matter to be discussed or the ideas for which the group advocates,’” the spokesperson wrote.