A conservative library's decision to ban LGBTQ pride flags has prompted a patron to initiate a challenge for the removal of the Bible, citing violent passages within the text. Brian Roorda of St. Peters, Missouri, argues that the King James Version of the Bible should be removed from the shelves of the St. Charles City-County Library system based on its own recently implemented rules.
Roorda stated that his action is a direct response to the library's anti-LGBTQ stance, which includes prohibiting employees from wearing rainbow pins. He emphasized that he does not personally advocate for banning books, but seeks to highlight what he perceives as unequal application of rules. "I don't actually want the Bible banned. I don't believe in banning books," Roorda told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
As justification for his challenge, Roorda pointed to a verse in the Book of Matthew that suggests anyone causing a believer of Jesus Christ to sin should be drowned with a large millstone around their neck. This challenge marks the first appeal to reach the library's board of trustees since new rules regarding book challenges were enacted in July of the previous year.
The St. Charles City-County Library system comprises 11 branches and holds nearly one million physical books, including copies of the Quran and Torah. The library board of trustees is scheduled to review Roorda's challenge on Tuesday evening.
Roorda explained that the decision to ban LGBTQ pride flags was made in March. He expressed frustration that the library trustees allowed extensive time for public comments from those wishing to ban books but limited the public comment period to 30 minutes during the meeting where the flag ban was decided, preventing many from speaking. "The library trustees have all the time in the world to listen to people wanting to ban books, but they didn't even have the decency to extend the time to hear from those of us wanting to speak," he said.
The impetus for the flag ban, according to Roorda, stemmed from a complaint about a library employee wearing makeup, nail polish, and a goatee. Roorda claims a verse from the Book of Matthew was then used as a threat against this employee, which is why he selected a quote from the same verse for his counter-challenge.
Roorda initially filed his challenge on June 30. A library committee subsequently reviewed the Bible and voted to keep it in the adult nonfiction collection. Roorda has now appealed that decision to the library's trustees.
The board of trustees has several options: they can uphold the committee's decision, schedule a public hearing on the matter, or refer it to Library CEO John Greifzu for further review. A ban on the Bible would require a vote in favor from six out of the nine trustees.
The St. Charles City-County Library has become a focal point for local political tensions, with conservative activists and parents submitting numerous requests to ban books in 2023. Challenges were made against titles such as 'It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, Gender and Sexual Health,' 'My Mom's Having a Baby,' 'Bye, Bye Binary,' 'What's Happening to My Body? A Book for Boys,' 'The Little Coven,' and 'If You're A Drag Queen and You Know It.' The library removed only one challenged book, 'Bang Like A Pornstar: Sex Tips from the Pros,' from its collection.