Utah Library Responds to Criticism Over LGBTQ Books

A public library in Utah acknowledged having a children’s book with LGBTQ themes as part of its collection. The book is for young readers and easily accessible, but not on public display. This was confirmed in a statement from Carla Z. Gordon, Director of Library Services at Provo City Library.

Gordon explained that “Pride Is Love” is part of the library’s extensive board book collection, housed within bins rather than being prominently displayed. The library’s goal is to make these books easy for their youngest visitors to find.

The Cougar Chronicle, a conservative outlet at Brigham Young University, shared a photo of the book suggesting the library was promoting progressive ideas to children. The book aims to teach children about diversity, depicting a girl and her two dads preparing for a Pride parade.

“Pride Is Love” is intended for infants to toddlers, portraying family stories through daily routines. Another book, “My Two Dads and Me,” follows a similar theme.

According to Provo City Library’s policy, their mission is to offer community members resources for education, information, and leisure. The collection includes a range of materials in different formats and difficulties to serve various needs.

Gordon noted that the library has numerous displays based on holidays, visiting authors, and more. She emphasized that the library aims to represent diverse perspectives, including topics like gender and race. The library follows a specific process for addressing complaints about materials, determining whether to retain, move, or discard items.

Utah Senator Mike Lee expressed concern over this issue on social media, sharing The Cougar Chronicle’s post. The concern reflects ongoing debates about how public institutions manage and showcase diverse content.