‘Freedom is too precious a heritage’
EDITOR:
As co-chairs of the Oak Ridge Chapter of PFLAG (Parents Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), we would like to challenge the premise of the letter “Just the Facts: Children’s books in the library,” authored by Sandy Malcolm: Gays Against Groomers.
Before commenting on the content of the letter, please be informed that Gays Against Groomers is a far-right anti-LGBTQ organization, and in no way speaks for the LGBTQ community.
The general content of the letter pertains to a single book, “Let’s Talk About It,” which is a sex-education book located in the adult section of the library and therefore not available to minors.
The many research facts about the book’s content on children are therefore irrelevant.
Dr. William West, a past member of the Chattanooga Library Board, has said, “Freedom is too precious a heritage to let fall into the hands of totalitarian groups who have little charity and tolerance for views other than their own.”
This was true in 1966 and it is still true today.
This ongoing effort from a small minority of our community to limit access to library books must end.
Anne Backus,
John Jaruzel
Co-Chairs, PFLAG Oak Ridge