Pro-Trump Missouri Lawmaker Wants To Jail Library Staff Who Give Children Access To Books With LGBTQ Content
A bill which was recently proposed by Missouri state representative Ben Baker—a Republican and staunch Trump supporter—seeks to ban libraries from allowing children and teens access to books with "any description or representation" of sexuality.
The bill seeks to create a "parental library review board" which will have to approve any and all books that will be available to children.
The board would have complete power over what books and information children can access, a concept completely counter to one of the main missions of public libraries—free, equal, and confidential access to information.
This "parental library review board" would also have the ability to "order any material deemed to be age-inappropriate sexual material to be removed from public access."
This may seem like a fairly innocuous idea at first, children should probably not have access to pornography, but it quickly becomes clear that sexually explicit material isn't what Baker intended to target once his words about the bill are considered.
Baker stated that the bill was largely a response to libraries holding "Drag Queen Story Time" programs, and his discomfort with those programs.
"The main thing is I want to be able to take my kids to a library and make sure they're in a safe environment, and that they're not gonna be exposed to something that is objectionable material."
“Unfortunately, there are some libraries in the state of Missouri that have done this. And that's a problem."
There has been significant concern from the library community over the bill, which seeks to censor what content certain patrons can access.
Carrie Cline, Director of the Neosho Newton County Library, told KOAM of her colleagues' concerns.
"I was contacted by my fellow directors across the state. They're all very very upset about it. The Missouri Library Association's very aware of it, so also is the American Library Association at a federal level."
She further told KNWA:
"Libraries are very much against censorship in of any kind, we are one of the last institutions left alive where no matter who you are ethnically, religiously, politically you are welcomed at the public library."
“We believe in your right to view, to see anything you want to see, to read whatever you want to read and we're not going to get in the way of that."
“A good public library has something in it to offend everyone, or we're not doing our job."
Baker claims that the bill isn't meant to censor or ban books, as the books deemed inappropriate will still remain in the library, but be inaccessible to children.
"The main thing that I've heard is that I want to ban books or ban content or censor content, and that's not the case. I just think that there's a line between what is open and available access for our children."
"Even the bill specifies it wouldn't be taken out of the library, it would just be put in a section that's not for children."
The $500 fine and/or 1 year jail sentence that could await library staff for lending the "inappropriate" books to minors seems to say otherwise, however.
Libraries who receive state funding will also risk losing those funds if they fail to comply with the law if it is passed.
Some parents who use public libraries with their families, like Samantha Sowa, also disagree with the bill.
"I think that personally, education should be available and if you don't want to read something don't pick it up and read it, everybody should be able to choose what they want to read whether it be against someone else's beliefs because we don't all have the same beliefs."
The bill, which is extremely broadly written, could also be used to prevent children from accessing materials that have any LGBTQ+ content—what constitutes age inappropriate is not specifically defined, and would be up to the review board to determine.
This has garnered significant criticism of the bill on social media.
@Nettaaaaaaaa #Librarians are highly educated in their field and this politician wants uneducated people overriding… https://t.co/JS4s3d2i8O— M.V. Pine (@M.V. Pine) 1579223357
@AJDingus @Nettaaaaaaaa ... It's got some serious dismemberment-level violence in certain parts. Almost forgot.— Velda (@Velda) 1579225061
@Nettaaaaaaaa Why? If they don’t want their kids having the book they can parent them and say ‘this is too old for… https://t.co/LYHMRvdVMl— Mimiwilliams👩🏾🦽 (@Mimiwilliams👩🏾🦽) 1579213304
@Nettaaaaaaaa Wow, I wonder if those same folks desiring this change monitor their children's internet traffic as closely.— Jesse Trumpore (@Jesse Trumpore) 1579266838
Kids who are questioning their gender or sexuality, or just seeking more information, often use public library resources because it is a safe and confidential way to do so. Lack of access to these books could mean a whole lot of isolated kids.
The bill also takes some of the power, and responsibility, over what children read away from their own parents.
Because some parents are uncomfortable with their kids having access to certain books, the bill would make it so no minors would have access to those books, instead of it remaining the responsibility of parents to monitor what their young children read.
Missouri Woman Finds A Heartwarming Surprise From A Stranger Tucked Into A Book She Just Bought
A Missouri woman's day was made when she found a heartwarming note and a $5 bill slipped into a book she bought, now she is passing that good will on to others.
"Remember that you are loved, you are amazing, you are strong," read the note found by Ashley Jost of Columbia, Missouri.
Jost was out shopping at Target when Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals by Rachel Hollis happened to catch her eye.
As part of a challenge with friends Jost had agreed to read at least 10 pages a day for 75 days.
"I keep hearing this book is an easy read and kind of inspirational," Jost said. "So I thought okay, 17 bucks, I'll just grab this book and it'll be my first read of this challenge."
But once Jost got home she was in for a surprise:
Jost read a chapter of the book. When she finished the chapter and tossed the book on the ottoman, something slipped out of it.
"Five dollars fell out, and it took me a second," said Jost "I was like, 'Wait, what just happened?'"
Jost examined the rest of the book and discovered a pink Post-it note wedged in between one of the last pages.
"To the person who buys this book: I am having a tough day. I thought maybe I could brighten someone else's with this little surprise," the note read. "Go buy a coffee, a donut or a face mask. Practice some self care today. Remember that you are loved, you are amazing, you are strong.
- Lisa"
"I read it once, and I read it again," Jost said. "I thought, 'dang this is really neat'"
Jost couldn't believe what she had found.
"Like this is something that only happens to strangers on the internet, not some random person in the middle of Missouri who just happens to decide in the heat of the moment to buy this book at Target."
So Jost decided to share the random act of kindness with others, posting the note and the story on Twitter.
Jost wasn't the only one touched by the heartwarming gesture and soon the story began spreading across the internet.
Although Jost said she was surprised by the all the response the story has received she think it shows a little kindness is something "we all need."
"I think the engagement is an indicator that people just sort of need the pick-me-up. We need it all the time, but particularly we do heading into the work week and in this busy time of year for everybody."
So Jost has decided to pass the good will she received onto others by paying it forward.
"We live in a college town where there are so many people living paycheck to paycheck," said Jost "So I decided I wanted to do one random act of kindness every day this week, each worth $5."
And others inspired by the random act of kindness are following Jost's example.
And although she may never get to do it in person Jost and others wanted to say thank you to the mysterious Lisa for her kind gesture, "where ever she is."
The Jones Sisters From 'Queer Eye' Just Sold A Massive Amount Of BBQ Sauce After Their Episode Premiered
Queer Eye continues its successful streak on Netflix. Season 3 of the hit reality television show captured hearts around the country once the newest episodes dropped on the streaming service Friday. And it didn't take long for us to get another feel good story from the Fab Five.
Episode 3 of the show's third season saw the Fab Five hit up Kansas City, Missouri, where they became acquainted with sisters Deborah and Mary Jones, the owners of Jones Bar-B-Q. The restaurant has a signature barbecue sauce, and the main storyline of their episode followed their efforts to get their barbecue sauce bottled so it could be sold.
The sisters had trouble doing this themselves, so Antoni and Karamo took them to Original Juans––now Spicin' Foods, after having been sold––where they were able to finally bottle their signature sauce.
Refinery29 reached out to Spicin' Foods via email and received the following response:
"Our Product Development Manager, Tommy Carter, helped create a match to their secret ingredient just in time for filming. We're proud to have been able to partner with the Jones sisters and help them develop their recipe and get their sauce bottled. Also, the sauce is delicious! The secret ingredient gives it a rich and unique flavor."
The partnership was a big success: The Jones sisters sold 11,000 bottles of their signature Sweet & Tangy sauce the weekend that their episode aired.
As they wrote on Instagram:
Let's talk about the sauce. As of yesterday morning, we sold 11,000 bottles. We averaged 1.7 bottles per minute this weekend. We are feeling so much love and support from all of you.
THANK YOU to everyone who ordered a bottle. Your support means so much to us! Now, we're asking for your support in the form of patience. Please allow 7-10 days for your sauce to arrive.
To all our friends from around the world asking for our sauce, we hear you! It is one of our goals to start shipping internationally soon. Keep an eye on our page for updates.
Patience, everyone. Making and bottling this stuff sure is a lot of work:
And just look at how thrilled they are!
Fans are, simply put, over the moon for these two.
Want to order some barbecue sauce of your own? It's available for purchase on the official Jones Bar-B-Q website.
We're making a note to get some sauce ourselves!
You can also check out the recipes in this book for some inspiration for innovative ways and foods to barbecue. It's the first day of spring, folks. That means barbecue season is coming soon. Polish up those grills.
Educators are often among the unsung heroes of our society, making all sorts of sacrifices for their students.
Take the story of George P. Smith, for example.
If Smith's name looks somewhat familiar to you, it's because in December 2018 he was awarded the Novel Prize in Chemistry (an honor he shared with Frances Arnold of the California Institute of Technology and Gregory Winter of the MRC molecular biology lab in Cambridge, England.
Smith received nearly $250,000 in prize money upon accepting his award, and he's taking every cent of that money and donating it to launch the Missouri Nobel Scholarship Fund for students in the College of Arts and Sciences.
George P. Smith, MU's first Nobel Prize winner, announced Tuesday that he will donate his $243,000 prize to the uni… https://t.co/AIDpBdSczJ— Columbia Missourian (@Columbia Missourian) 1552597223
Speaking at a community event in Columbia with his wife, Marjorie, Smith said his liberal arts education provided the "springboard" for his career as a scientist:
"This might surprise some people, but my first degree was actually a bachelor of arts, not a bachelor of science. My liberal arts education was the springboard for a lifetime of learning and cultural engagement. Margie and I hope that supporting the liberal arts as a whole will enrich the lives of future Mizzou students, whatever careers they choose."
He added:
"I don't know if I particularly want to say that I am proud personally of this award because as I think all Nobel laureates understand, they are in the middle of a huge web of science, of influence and ideas, of research and results that impinge on them and that emanate from them."
MU and the University of Missouri System contributed an additional $300,000 to the scholarship fund, which now totals more than $500,000. Additionally, MU Chancellor Alexander N. Cartwright said that the university will $100,000 for scholarships every time a faculty member wins a Nobel Prize.
In a statement of his own, Cartwright praised Smith's "incredibly humble attitude":
"Time and time again we have been overwhelmed by George's incredibly humble attitude, and today we are amazed even further by his spirit of generosity. Gifts such as these make it possible for more students to attend our university and have the experience of being taught by other world-class faculty."
Smith's support for his students struck a chord across social media. The news comes the same week that a college admissions scandal revealing that wealthy parents bribed school officials to admit their children into top universities made national headlines.
I love @mizzou https://t.co/CU7rr12wsK— BD (@BD) 1552444164
What do @nobleprize #kindnesschampions do? Yep they GIVE the $250,000 money they receive to help #students⭐… https://t.co/ZOjHro27Sj— Operation Kindness (@Operation Kindness) 1552654909
Thank you Dr. George P. Smith for donating your 2018 Nobel Prize money of $250,000 to students at The University of… https://t.co/mkTt5mkYXk— George S. Mack (@George S. Mack) 1552639404
This is fantastic. “His donation will support needs-based scholarships for future College of Arts and Science stude… https://t.co/Jq5JYFWLFU— Carter Brooks Templeton (@Carter Brooks Templeton) 1552528973
In an op-ed, The Kansas City Star took aim at the college admissions scandal, saying that Smith's donation "shows the best of higher ed":
"Dr. Smith, you honor Missouri — your university and your state — with not only your Nobel-winning work but with your world-class heart. And may we dwell a fraction as much on your example as on the stunning realization that Aunt Becky from "Full House" is a cheater.
Bravo, Dr. Smith, and may others lead by your example.