"Some people say there are only two genders. But there are really many genders.
"You are what you say you are, because YOU know you best."
"Who are you?" by Brook Pessin-Whedbee, a public school teacher in Oakland, Calif., is a "kid's guide to gender identity."
The book was checked out this week from the Foley Public Library.
This book in the children's library and many others in the young adult section are causing concern for a group of women in Baldwin County.
The American Library Association (ALA) defines young adults as those between 12 and 18 years old.
Foley resident Stephanie Williams told 1819 News after seeing some of the books offered for children and teens across the state, she wanted to see what was in her local library.
"We went online and looked at materials for children to find what they are offering to children," said Williams. "There is a really big pushback from parents and concerned citizens with regard to what children are being exposed to. Some of them have seen drag queen story time that libraries sponsor. I haven't heard anything about that in Foley, but I have heard about it in other places in Alabama, including Mobile, so I feel like it's only a matter of time before we see it here."
Williams said she approached the children's library director, who told her she had never heard of a drag queen story time and confirmed there had not been one at the Foley library. However, the books Williams found were eye-opening. She said sexually-explicit material was readily available in the library.
"Any of the material on the shelves, children over the age of 12 can have free access to that, and we saw with our own eyes today some really disgusting and sick stuff," Williams added. "That will only serve to further confuse children and young people. From my perspective, it's clearly indoctrination. We have a culture that's crumbling and that’/s my particular focus. For one, our society is falling apart, so is our economy. But two, our culture is taking a plunge into a cesspool, and I refuse to believe that a majority of people buy into this."
Williams and others checked out several LGBTQ books from the children's and young adult section Thursday. They say they plan to look through them to get a better understanding of what children in Foley are being exposed to. She plans to listen to other groups across the state, pushing back against inappropriate material in libraries.
Foley Public Library director John Jackson has not returned a phone call from 1819 News.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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