A Lapeer County prosecutor said earlier this week he was weighing criminal charges against a local librarian over an LGBTQ-themed book on the shelves. At the library’s board meeting Thursday night, he had a different message.
Prosecutor John Miller said the original report was misleading.
"My office never contemplated criminal charges against anyone in the library staff. My comments were taken out of context, and I’m here, tonight, to correct that record," he said.
Miller said the book, "Gender Queer: A Memoir," is nonetheless not suited for a public library because of its sexual content. He did not say whether it violated any laws.
The comments were made at a public library board meeting, which was moved to a larger venue to accommodate the community. Public opinion at the meeting was split.
One county resident, Truman Mass, said children could easily find the sexually explicit material on the second floor of the library. He blamed the librarians.
"If you will not get rid of these ungodly books and resign from your (position as library director), then we the people of this country will make sure the library millage will never be renewed," he said.
One Michigan library did lose its millage vote in Jamestown over displaying controversial LGBTQ-centered material.
For some, "Gender Queer" was an affirming piece of literature. Jacob Lavan, a trans woman, stood at the podium.
"(The book) highlights how someone can feel shamed and stigma over something they can't control, like sexual and gender identity, and how that can lead to self-isolation and interacting inauthentically with the world at large," she said through tears.
Yet it's unlikely the book will be taken off the shelves. Lapeer District Head Librarian Amy Churchill said if there was an obscene book, it would have been taken off the shelves already.
"I know there are community members that are not happy that 'Gender Queer' is on the shelf, and they have their own judgement about the material," she said. "They think it’s obscene and they think it’s sexually explicit. From my perspective, none of the books in the library are obscene or illegal."
The book is up for reconsideration—the process where the head librarian decides if material is shelf worthy—and could be removed.