The Book Banning Mindset

There has been a fair amount of coverage of Sarah Palin's efforts to ban books from the public library in Wasilla, Alaska, a town that is minute in the grand scheme of things. However, Palin's attempts - which seem to have in fact occurred despite her denials - reflect one aspect of the nationwide Christianist anti-gay jihad: the desire to drive gays from public view and back into the closet with no care or regard for the damage done to gays or their families. If we disappear from public view, the thinking goes, then somehow we will cease to exist.

*

The concept is bullshit, of course, but then again most of what the Christianists expose is intentionally false and mean spirited (or worse). When the efforts to drive gays from public view, the Christianist fall back position is to depict us as perverted sinners who wilfully make the choice to be gay. 365gay.com has an interview with, Rev. Howard Bess, the author of one of the books Palin sought to ban. Here are some of Rev. Bess' insights on Bible Spice Palin and other story highlights:

*

Rev. Howard Bess is not gay. He was not raised by gay parents and does not have gay children. Bess did not grow up with a gay family next door and his best friend was not gay. Rev. Bess might not have had a horse in the GLBT rights race but that did not stop him from becoming a trailblazer for the issue in the American Baptist church and Christian faith at large.

*

Rev. Bess has recently enjoyed some time in the spotlight thanks to vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin’s attempt to ban his book, Pastor, I Am Gay, from the Wasilla Public Library. . . . In fact, for a long time the only places you could by the book in Mat-Su were a barber shop and beauty salon. The book was also available at the Wasilla Public Library, a ‘problem’ Paling infamously sought to solve. Wasilla’s librarian stood up to Mayor Palin’s rash and uninformed demands. The librarian was then fired by Palin only to be reinstated after the community objected loudly to the dismissal.

*

Pastor, I Am Gay is not an obscene book by any stretch. It is the open and honest story of how Rev. Bess came to the conclusion that GLBT folk are just as blessed as everyone else and deserve to be fully included in the life and traditions of the church.

*

Rev. Bess is happy to talk about Pastor, I Am Gay, but he matter-of-factly states that “the book has run its course.” Rev. Bess is most concerned that people learn about the beliefs of Sarah Palin and that her election would be “bad, bad news for the gay population.” Bess describes Palin as a religious duelist, someone who sees everything as good vs. evil. Bess says that Palin and the churches she attends are “as anti-gay as they come.” He even described Palin, to Salon.com, as “… Jerry Falwell with a pretty face.”

*

Rev. Bess has struggled for years to promoted gay equality and worries that the election of Sarah Palin could erode much of the work he has done. Bess has also expressed frustration and confusion toward members of the GLBT community who continue to support the McCain/Palin ticket. He states he was astounded by the Log Cabin Republican’s endorsement of the pair and that they obviously have little understanding of Sarah Palin and her beliefs. Bess summarized his feelings towards Sarah Palin while talking to Salon.com, “this person’s election would be a disaster for the country and the world.”