Alabama lawmakers advance bill that could lead to prosecution of librarians
Time:2024-05-21 20:59:45 Source:worldViews(143)
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers on Thursday advanced legislation that could see librarians prosecuted under the state’s obscenity law for providing “harmful” materials to minors, the latest in a wave of bills in Republican-led states targeting library content and decisions.
The Alabama House of Representatives voted 72-28 for the bill that now moves to the Alabama Senate. The legislation comes amid a soaring number of book challenges — often centered on LGBTQ content — and efforts in a number of states to ban drag queen story readings.
“This is an effort to protect children. It is not a Democrat bill. It’s not a Republican bill. It’s a people bill to try to protect children,” Republican Rep. Arnold Mooney, the bill’s sponsor, said during debate.
The Alabama bill removes the existing exemption for public libraries in the state’s obscenity law. It also expands the definition of prohibited sexual conduct to include any “sexual or gender oriented conduct” at K-12 public schools or public libraries that “exposes minors to persons who are dressed in sexually revealing, exaggerated, or provocative clothing or costumes, or are stripping, or engaged in lewd or lascivious dancing, presentations, or activities.”
You may also like
- Sarah Jessica Parker divides opinion with enormous hat on set of And Just Like That
- US decries Nauru's 'unfortunate' ditching of Taiwan, warns on China's promises
- Week in Politics: Luxon stands out, benefit action under scrutiny and grief over Efeso Collins
- Community housing developments stall as government funding not guaranteed
- Nina Dobrev hospitalized with a neck brace due to serious e
- School truancy will leave 80
- Fox within sight of lead at US Masters midway point
- Woman charged with murder after man found dead in Hamilton
- Socialite Jasmine Hartin enjoys beach snuggle with electrician hunk