Alabama lawmakers advance bill that could lead to prosecution of librarians
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.”
Related articles
How Rita Moreno uses honors like an upcoming public television award to further her philanthropy
NEW YORK (AP) — Rita Moreno says it was always in her nature to be generous – to hold doors for peop2024-05-07Lady Louise Windsor dons a high
Lady Louise Windsor was spotted mucking in at the Royal Windsor Horse Show this afternoon as her par2024-05-07Australian police shoot dead a 16
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A 16-year-old boy armed with a knife was shot dead by police after stabb2024-05-07Swiatek saves 3 match points to beat Sabalenka in Madrid Open final
MADRID (AP) — Iga Swiatek avenged her loss in last year’s final to Aryna Sabalenka and won the Madri2024-05-07Here's where Biden and Trump stand on 10 key issues
WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden and Donald Trump are two presidents with unfinished business and an itch2024-05-07Chris Hemsworth reunites with his former Home and Away co
Kate Ritchie has reunited with her former Home and Away co-star Chris Hemsworth.The 45-year-old radi2024-05-07
atest comment