Should libraries stock ex-gay literature?

You can't regulate against information like this, even if it is heinous. I don't agree with a lot of what the bible has to say on women and gayness, but that doesn't mean it should be banned. It's what individuals do with information that matters.

I agree with LindsayIndigo. As long as the anti-/ex-gay texts are presented together with more affirmative literature it will only help people to become aware of and guard themselves against the former's stupidity.

Is homophobia natural?

Im pretty sure ex-gay books arent.

And relgious wants to ban it cause they gotta show their control. They dont want people thinking for themselves! Think of all the things that could go wrong!!

One man, one woman, as many babies as humanly possible and your sorted. Thats all we're here for.

Why is religion still here? I can't believe people still actually CHOOSE to follow these.....dickheads.

Joe_Leo,

(& anybody else)

Religion is mankind's attempt to reach God whereas Jesus Christ is God reaching out to mankind.

Keep on reaching Paulus......theres nobody up there.

And back on the topic: Regulating information, even repressive propaganda, is the sign of a fascist society.

unfortunately i believe the library should have every book on its shelves. thats what a library is for. whether the book is right or wrong is up to the reader

let them stock up their books of hate. everyone needs a good laugh

Even books that are filled with hate or erroneous information need to be allowed on library shelves. I do not want someone deciding for me what I can or cannot read.

Censorship is wrong, and the citizens of the U.S. have the right to decide what they do and do not read or watch. People like Palin would disregard your right to choose and attempt to make your decisions for you.

While I do agree that they are born that way, parents should have the right to lie to themselves about homosexuality. I say stock the dang books.

No matter how much you may not agree with what someone writes in a book, that book can not be banned... once you start banning one book it becomes a ripple effect until our libraries become just empty buildings.

censorship .... hummmm ..... kind of like banning bibles and allowing the koran .... kind of like allowing pro-gay literature and not allowing literature about those who were hurt by the alternative lifestyle and found a more excellent way. you cant have it both ways you know - .... unless al franken becomes president -

I agree that all information should be on library shelves. But perhaps the religiously bigoted hate information should be in the religion section of non-fiction, rather than with the real information on gay and lesbian issues. Have a 'religion-based hate' number for these books, as well as Islamic hate books, pro-Aryan hate books, etc. I'm sure the Dewey Decimal System can be stretched to be that accomodating, can't it?

@Shelchak

The Al-Quaeda training manual? Lol! No one can tell me what not to read dammit!

Mein Kampf? Is that how it's spelled? Is that in the library or is it only Anti-Nazi books?

This suppression of information should not stand! Fascists!

I love the double speak. People are practically speaking through clinched teeth of sure have the book but omg how stupid is this? While on the one hand one wants to be fair there's the other of wishing fair wasn't in question because surely those that don't agree would be just fine if such books didn't step foot into the library. But you can't be that way when you are against book banning.

oh the painted corner is so comfortable...isn't it?

When you have the internet that is available to most everyone at the Library (exclusion of porn) they can access everything. There is no way the Library could justify not allowing the books to be placed there while having the web.

Then there's the idea that book banning is archaic. However, this quote is interesting:

"One can resist the invasion of armies, one cannot resist the invasion of ideas." - Victor Hugo (1802 - 1885)

You do not read books you do not agree with and you don't listen to speeches of people you have massive disagreements with. Listening to someone's difference of opinion is within reason, but once they start going into preaching it's time to move on.

Ideas are like seeds. First they are planted (and in an open mind that's rather easy) and then they start to take root. They may not show up right away but if they are placed correctly and proficiently they will start to change you.

Believe what you want, but keep the most treasured beliefs under strict guard. In your face attacks are easy to block, it's the subtle nature of some ideas that infiltrate you and ruin your foundation.

yes

there should obviously be a balance. if you can stock pro gay books than you can stock these books. there should be no censoring of books period unless they are unfit for publishing like, for example, anything written by that disgusting festering pile of human waste Jerome Corsi

Yes, they should have them in the library. It is a part of our history and excluding certain literature might as well be the same as banning it. NO censorship.

Tough one; without unnecessary censorship, they should probably not be stocked for the same reasons that books which state as a fact that the world is flat should not.

As much as I hate the message behind these books they shouldn't be banned. Although I feel extremely bad for the kids whose parents are trying to turn them into ex-gays. I just hope that most parents love their kids enough to let them be themselves even if that means loving someone of the same gender.

The ideas these books espouse may be heinous and intolerant, but I personally believe in freedom of expression.

Just stick them in the fiction isle where they belong.

While we're at it, let's make sure they have plenty copies of "The Turner Diaries" to go around.

Oh wait - isn't that banned?

Seriously, though -
These books should not be banned. In my possibly shortsighted opinion, no book should be banned.
But they should definitely be categorized correctly - for example, these books should go under "fiction," not "psychology."

Sure they can be allowed, as long as they're in the fiction section.

I'm feeling ambivalent about this. On the one hand I have no desire to ban any book from a library, that's just outright wrong.

But on the other hand, this is total garbage that is damaging to a lot of people.

But I stand on the side of liberty, the book should definitely be allowed in.

It just better not be put in the psychology or self-help section. It better be put in the religious bullshit section.

while on one hand i agree Lindsey, Jana and many others that censorship is censorship and libraries should make all beliefs accessible to everyone. the whole ripple effect of banning books frightens me

on the other hand, i dont think it would be right to have an anti-jewish or anti-black section in a library. if a parent wants to teach their child hate thats their decision and they can keep that in their home.

so i guess im on the fence on this one