A group of 13 Idaho Legislators has called on the Idaho Commission for Libraries (ICfL) to immediately withdraw from the Marxist-led American Library Association (ALA).

The statement, published by the Idaho Freedom Caucus, makes a powerful case for the necessity of the ICfL to withdraw its membership from the ALA by exposing the organization's Marxist leader, ideological strategic plans, and defense of sexually explicit books for kids.

The group of legislators said, "We have significant concerns about the election of Emily Drabinski, a self-described ‘Marxist lesbian,’ as the next president of the ALA. Her election raises issues about libraries' involvement in exposing children to explicit materials and injecting hard-left politics and sexuality into publicly funded libraries." Emily Drabinski claims she wants to use libraries to “wield collective power” and advocates for imposing a corrupt ideological agenda on children by queering libraries.

The legislators also exposed that activists have been corrupting the organization for years. 

"Activists have burrowed their way into the ALA bureaucracy, bending the organization to promote diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and social justice instead of serving an educational purpose and upholding American ideals." 

Legislators called out the ALA for defending pornographic books available to kids in public and school libraries. 

In a list of the 13 most “challenged” sexually explicit books aimed at children, the ALA encouraged readers to “protect” the books. The list includes obscene materials targeting kids such as Gender Queer, All Boys Aren’t Blue, Flamer, and This Book is Gay, among others.

Legislators even laid bare the leftist bent of the ICfL's Idaho Digital Learning Database, which offers many obscene and sexually explicit books to school-aged children. 

For example, the Idaho Digital E-book Alliance (IDEA) collection offers This Book is Gay, which contains detailed instructions for how to engage in sexual activity. On IDEA, the description informs readers the book contains information on "[h]ow to flirt" and the "ins and outs of gay sex." Author Juno Dawson offers explicit advice on "toys and strap-ons," "bumming" ("...in the absence of a vagina, gay and bi men make excellent use of the back door"), and "good" vs. "bad" versions of hand jobs. The IDEA database also offers the sexually explicit book “All Boys Aren’t Blue” and books on transgenderism such as “Trans Mission” and “Queer Power."

The corruption of the ALA has clearly had a powerful influence on the ICfL, and therefore, public and school libraries across the state have stocked their shelves with books about pornography and transgender insanity. 

Legislators called these books "explicit catechetical tools for instruction in gender ideology, a sectarian, psychologically manipulative, and destructive poison for innocent children." 

The Idaho Freedom Caucus concluded, "We have a duty to uphold the ideals of Liberty embedded in our Idaho Constitution and to protect children." They called for the ICfL to immediately withdraw from the ALA.

James Lindsay, American-born author and leading expert on Critical Race Theory, applauded the efforts of the Idaho Freedom Caucus on Twitter saying, "Idaho is making a move to leave the American Library Association now too! Good for them! It should happen in as many states as possible and, more importantly, in every local county and city district that can pass it. No more Communist organizations ruining our communities!"

These lawmakers are right. State and local efforts to reform our library system are being undercut by a national group with a far-left agenda. The time has come for a new libraries association that is not captivated by a pernicious ideology or pushing sexually explicit graphic books into the hands of children and teens. Gov. Brad Little's appointees on the Idaho Board of Library Commissioners must act.

The full statement by the Idaho Freedom Caucus is reproduced below:

The Idaho Freedom Caucus calls upon the Idaho Commission for Libraries to end its membership and cut all ties with the Marxist-led American Library Association (ALA). We call on local public and school libraries to do the same.

We have significant concerns about the election of Emily Drabinski, a self-described "Marxist lesbian," as the next president of the ALA. Her election raises issues about libraries' involvement in exposing children to explicit materials and injecting hard-left politics and sexuality into publicly funded libraries. With her election, we have concerns about libraries' adherence to their educational purpose and their responsible use of taxpayer funds.

Drabinski has said in interviews that librarians aren’t focused on assisting minors in accessing pornography, but her writings and public presentations reveal that she has dedicated her professional career to precisely that, while using taxpayer resources. Drabinski proposed using “queer theory” to guide the way books are cataloged in libraries. Her expertise in "queer theory" aligns with the Marxist’s objective, seeking to undermine the West by eradicating the traditional family, natural sexual relationships, distinctions between sexes, and the orderly structures that accompany them.

Drabinski's politically exclusionary statements and desire to wage war against those who disagree with her further highlight her divisive approach. It’s clear Drabinski intends to use her power as President of the ALA to promote deviance and the sexualization of children.

Activists have burrowed their way into the ALA, bending the organization to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice instead of serving an educational purpose and upholding American ideals. Their strategic plan integrates these principles into the organization's mission, impacting Idaho libraries and attracting federal funding for DEI initiatives. The organization-wide commitment to leftist ideology has been further entrenched through the current President’s commitment to Marxism.

The ALA has provided LGBT resources and pressured libraries to include explicit materials on transgenderism and sexual deviance targeting young children. They defend the presence of sexually explicit books in school and public libraries, including titles like Gender Queer and All Boys Aren't Blue. Some of these books are available in the Idaho Commission for Libraries IDEA database and public school libraries. This dissemination of explicit material with a far-left agenda has reached libraries throughout Idaho.

These books are explicit catechetical tools for teaching gender ideology, a sectarian, psychologically manipulative, and destructive poison for innocent children.

ALA’s role in corrupting libraries and exposing children to a pernicious ideology can no longer be ignored. We have a duty to uphold the ideals of Liberty embedded in our Idaho Constitution and to protect children. For these reasons, we urge the Idaho Commission for Libraries and all public and school libraries to withdraw from the ALA immediately.