Baby Be-Bop, a coming of age story about a young man who discovers he is gay, has been targeted by Wisconsin Christian group calling it vulgar, racial and anti-Christian, and wants the book burned.
Yes. Burned. More from Salon.com:
Now an outfit called the Christian Civil Liberties Union has gotten in on the act, suing the library for, according to the West Bend Daily News, “damaging” the “mental and emotional well-being” of several individuals by displaying “Baby Be-Bop” in the library. Since attempts to label the novel as “pornographic” have failed, the (somewhat shadowy) CCLU hopes to brand it as hate speech, in part because it contains the word “nigger.” The complainants, described as “elderly” by the newspaper, claim that Block’s novel is “explicitly vulgar, racial [sic] and anti-Christian.” They want the library’s copy not only removed but publicly burned.
“Baby Be-Bop,” a title from the Weetzie Bat series that describes the youth of Weetzie’s best friend, Dirk, is, in Block’s [author] words, “a very sweet, simple, coming-of-age story about a young man’s discovery that he’s gay.” Dirk is beaten by gay bashers but steadfastly clings to the possibility of finding love. Block finds the disingenuous charges of racism particularly distressing. “Obviously I use those words, including ‘faggot,’ which is also in the book, to expose racism and homophobia, not promote it,” she said. “It’s a tiny little book,” she added, “but they want to burn it like a witch.”
No Dorothy, it’s not the 1930s. It’s the 21st century. At least outside of West Bend, Wisconsin.
In the video clip below, a West Bend man advocates burning Baby Be-Bop and similar book.:
June 19th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Does the book promote hatred against christians who disprove of gay marriage? If so, then yes it ought to be banned.
June 21st, 2009 at 1:39 am
Does the book promote Biblically illiterate Christofascists (like the God-impressionist in the video)? If so, then it should be kept on the shelves.
This was a fine example of bigotry for the sake of bigotry and an attempt at an easy buck ($120,000 for “compensatory damages”) by the rather shady Christian Civil Liberties Union. Google the CCLU – you won’t find much. Search for it on wikipedia – nothing. In fact, the only mention of the law suit is in the wikipedia profile of West Bend, Wisc.
Note: The publicity garnered by this monument to stupidity will bring the book back into publication. Rumor has it that MTV has optioned it and working with the author on a screenplay.
http://thedevilanddanvojir.blogspot.com
June 21st, 2009 at 2:02 am
Does the book promote even a slight contempt for Biblically illiterate Christofascists (like the God-impressionist in the video). If so, then by all means, keep it on the shelves!
This situation, this monument to stupidity may have been contrived by the so-called Christian Civil Liberties Union (or, CCLU – i.e. people who hate the ACLU). Google CCLU: only mentioned with the brouhaha in West Bend, WI. Wikipedia – CCLU? Nothing. Wikipedia – West Bend, WI? One small paragraph (update) about this situation.
I think the local pastor, one Rev. Cleveland Eden, has been cruising the local nursing homes to gather plaintiffs in the suit.
BTW: Bigotry backlash may have resulted in the book’s being optioned by MTV.