On Monday, April 17, word began to spread that Cass County commissioners were getting ready to discuss a new “Child Protection” ordinance calling for the arrest of librarians who distributed sexually “explicit” books to children.
After overwhelming pushback from librarians both locally and across Michigan in the next 24 hours, the proposed ordinance was removed from the Committee of the Whole agenda on Thursday’s agenda.
Designed to prohibit “dissemination, exhibiting, display, or making accessible sexually explicit matter,” to minors, the ordinance draft defined the term “sexually explicit” as containing “nudity, sexual excitement, erotic fondling, sexual intercourse, or sadomasochistic abuse,” – with exceptions for scientific or religious texts.
It also stated public employees would be required to regularly sign documents that they understand the ordinance, authorize the county clerk to notify authorities of noncompliance and impose duties on law enforcement and prosecutor’s office to arrest and charge individuals.
Cass County commissioner R.J. Lee, who introduced the ordinance and then asked for it to be removed, spoke to the audience during Thursday’s meeting about why he introduced the ordinance, and what he has learned from the pushback:
“In the world we live in today, it seems like sexuality, pornography, and other adult content are being pushed in our children more and more. My intention for bringing this forward was to try and create a discussion, a topic that many families have told me they’re concerned about. What I wanted to ask is, what can we do to provide comfort to these families and protect the innocence of our children just a little longer? All this without infringing on anyone’s rights.
As far as the ordinance that was introduced, it was clearly not the right way to go. It was brought forward because of my lack of experience … and passion. … Even though I read and thought I understood the proposal, I clearly should have asked more people to be involved in this, including the other elected officials. …
Lessons for me have been learned, I promise you. I will not only make sure that I include more people in future actions, but I’ll also be patient and willing to take the time that is needed to get it right the first time.
I do want to make it known that it was never my intention to have a book banning or to punish the many good librarians that I’ve come to know recently. I’ve definitely conversated with many good librarians. Lastly, we all know that even though it was removed, that it was originally there, uh, it was an action that I did. Please do not blame my fellow board members. Even though they might have had a small idea of my intentions. …
This was an action that I did because I care about the people in the community, and I will listen to everyone.”
While Lee told Bridge Michigan he would not reintroduce the proposal, Commission Chair Jeremiah Jones said a similar proposal could be reintroduced in the future after consulting with legal authorities, and suggested it was something he could support.
“I don’t want my 5-year-old granddaughter going to school and reading about things that are inappropriate (like) sexual transitions,” said Jones, to Bridge MI. “It’s not a Cass County problem, it’s statewide and nationwide.”
During public comment at Thursday’s meeting, Cass District Library Director Barbara Gordon said she was glad the proposed ordinance had been from from the agenda, and issued a statement on behalf of the library board:
“The library does not believe the Board of Commissioners had the legal authority to enact the ordinance proposed. Consistent with the American Library Association and the Michigan Library Association, Cass District Library both supports the right of all parents and guardians to direct their own children’s use of the library and upholds the constitutional promise to protect the freedom to read and the right of access to information.”
By Ryan Yuenger
ryany@wsjm.com
