Library Refuses to Remove "The Joy of Gay Sex" from Shelves

Since November of last year, parents and city officials in the town of Nampa, Idaho, have complained about several controversial books being available at the public library, including The Joy of Sex and The Joy of Gay Sex. Resident Randy Jackson became so distressed at the library’s lack of response to complaints that he checked out The Joy of Gay Sex as a form of protest, saying that he had no intention of returning the book. He believes the library shouldn’t be carrying books with graphic content, since mostly teens and children frequent the library.

Last week the library board met to discuss whether or not the books should be removed from the shelves. More than 20 people showed up to listen to the discussion, and most were in support of pulling them. Supporters of removing the books included a spokesman for the Nampa City Council, as well as mayor Tom Dale.

Regardless of the fact that the majority of people wanted the books removed, the library board chose to ignore public sentiment, voting 3 to 1 to keep the books on the shelves. They did offer a small compromise by deciding to place the books on the top shelf, out of the reach of small children, even though older children and teenagers can still reach them. "I believe the library board did not have the best interests of the community in mind when they made their decision today," Jackson said.

One of the controversial books included in the library’s decision, The Joy of Sex, was first written in 1979. It is described by its publisher as a "lovemaking guide to intimate discovery and experimentation" that provides beautiful drawings and color photographs that "serve to graphically illustrate sexual positions and interactions." The content discusses vibrators, lubricants, foursomes, and "moresomes."

The publisher’s statement provided on Amazon for The Joy of Gay Sex says that it is "an essential reference book for every gay man" that discusses "the varieties of sexual behavior still available" including one-night stands. The Amazon reviewer’s comments say the book is an "uninhibited, no-holds-barred sex manual illustrated with explicit drawings, that has an accepting attitude toward "the kinkier aspects of erotic life," which include sex with animals, sadomasochism, and "intergenerational love affairs" such as a relationship between an 11-year-old boy and a 21-year-old man.

Several people at the library’s meeting thought these and other controversial graphic sex books shouldn’t be banned from the library. Lorrie Breshears says that pulling the books from the shelves amounts to nothing less than censorship. ""Parents should be watching their children and supervising what they are reading. So I prefer it stay where it was so that people wanting that information don’t have to ask for it."

Perhaps Breshears’ comments would make sense if parents did supervise their children’s reading, But in most libraries across the country, older children and teenagers are routinely dropped off and picked up by their parents. Convenience stores are bound by law to keep pornography out of the hands of minors, and X-rated movies are shown only at adult theaters, but evidently the Nampa library think it’s okay to give children easy access to sex instruction manuals with graphic pictures and X-rated discussions.