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To the editor:
Currently located in the children's section of the Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County is the book, "This Day in June '' by Gail Pitman, a cartoon illustrated text describing the events of a Pride parade. The theme of this book, as written by the author, is to: "Provide facts about LGBT history and culture."
There are pages in this book illustrating a man with a stubbled beard, dressed as a nun in a white and black traditional Catholic habit with a rosary around her neck. The words on the page state, "Artists painting, sisters sainting." The Reading Guide -- at the back of the book -- describing this scene reads, "The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is a group of artists, activists, and self-described nuns for the queer community that formed in San Francisco in 1979. The Sisters organized primarily to advocate safe-sex practices and to help AIDS patients when other social service or community groups would not."
There are several religious orders of nuns in our community and this book is openly disrespectful to them and their vocation. Even worse, it is available on the shelf in the children's section of our local library, teaching children irreverence and disrespecting the Catholic Church and the wonderful women who dedicate their lives to the faith. As with previous concerns related to books in the children's section portraying the LGBTQ lifestyle to children, the Concerned Patrons of PSLJ request that these books, which can remain available to parents who want to read them to their children, be reshelved in the adult section/parenting section of the local library. Patrons and adults can access them as needed. Children can frequent the library and be protected from age-inappropriate content.
The LGBTQ community should treat religious people with the same dignity and respect they are advocating for themselves. If I wrote a book mocking the LGBTQ community -- like "This Day in June" does to the Catholic community -- I am pretty confident it would not be allowed on the shelves. Concerned Patrons of PLSJ have submitted two written requests for the reconsideration of this book to be relocated to the adult section of the library. We remain concerned about the age-inappropriate nature of many books in our local libraries.
Annie McKenna
Steubenville