Approximately 40 people attended the council meeting Monday evening, and during the public forum, a majority addressed a recent Pella Public Library board decision to keep the book “Gender Queer” in circulation after a public challenge. Speakers were unanimous in sharing they were unhappy with the library board decision, and were seeking council reconsideration. “Gender Queer” is an award winning book published in 2019 by Maia Kobabe that reviewers describe as a work documenting the struggle to learn what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, and serves as a guide on gender identity for queer people. It is shelved in the adult section of the library. “Gender Queer” is an illustrated memoir, consisting of panels and associated dialogue. Many noted that this format would be attractive to children, who might have access to the book should it be on a library cart prior to being reshelved, or if it were lying on a table. Some called the book pornographic, and that just a glance at one of the panels displaying nudity or sexual activity could cause irreparable harm to children. One called it “cartoon pornography.” At least one person said if it were to remain in the library, it should be placed behind the counter. Another person called the book an attack on the traditional family, and that it doesn’t reflect the community standards of Pella. Several suggested the problem is with the library process for selecting books, and asked for the council to revisit that policy so similar materials wouldn’t be purchased in the future, and that “Gender Queer” could be removed from circulation. At least two people have spoken with Iowa state legislators seeking a legislative solution during the upcoming session that begins in January. Others addressed the library board composition, saying that it wasn’t representative of Pella. Several volunteered to be on the board in the future. Two suggested that one remedy would be to withhold funding from the library until the book was removed from the shelves. One person wanted to know if members of the library board–who are all volunteers–could be “fired.” Another suggested that having the book on the shelves constituted distributing obscene material to children, which is a crime.

After comments concluded, Mayor Don DeWaard thanked the audience for sharing their concerns. He shared that he and the council would educate themselves on the matters at hand, and that an informal discussion of the issue will occur among council members and staff at the council planning and policy meeting on January 4. He said a council decision or recommendation may or may not be forthcoming at that meeting.

To hear the entire council click below. Discussion of “Gender Queer” begins shortly before the 57 minute mark.

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