The Provo City Library in Utah has confirmed that a children’s book with LGBTQ themes is part of its collection. The book, titled “Pride Is Love,” is available for the library’s youngest visitors and is kept in a central location for easy access. However, it is not on display as claimed by some conservative outlets.
Carla Z. Gordon, the library’s director of services, stated, “I can confirm that the library does own a copy of ‘Pride Is Love’ along with the other small board books that were pictured in the post you referenced.” The library keeps these books in bins containing over 2,500 board books. The goal is to make them easy to find for young children.
On Monday, The Cougar Chronicle shared a photo of “Pride Is Love” with a caption accusing the library of promoting progressive ideas.
Other books mentioned include “Pride Puppy!”, “It’s a They!”, “My Two Dads and Me,” and “My Moms Love Me.” These books are intended for young children and depict LGBTQ families’ day-to-day activities.
The library’s website provides resources for parents to select materials fitting their family’s values. Gordon emphasized the library’s Selection Policy, which focuses on providing educational and leisure materials for all community members. She stated, “Within the limits of space and budget, the collection offers patrons materials in a choice of format, treatment, and level of difficulty.”
The library aims to represent various perspectives on topics such as gender, sexuality, and race. Gordon explained that the library sometimes alters book displays for holidays, observances, popular topics, and more to promote its collection.
Feedback from parents and community members is addressed through a process outlined in the library’s policy. This process involves reviewing materials to decide if they should be retained, moved, or discarded.
Utah Senator Mike Lee shared his concerns about the library’s book collection, referencing the article in his social media post.
Rachel del Guidice, a culture reporter for Fox News, covers topics at the intersection of politics, faith, family, and American culture.