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kentuckylantern.com

A local church is urging its members to permanently remove books from the Shelby County Public Library by checking them out and never returning them. The books portray gay characters and historical figures or explore LGBTQ+ themes.

Pamela Wilson Federspiel, who has been director of the library in downtown Shelbyville for 34 years, says the action is tantamount to “stealing.”

But three leaders of the Reformation Church of Shelbyville defend what they call an “act of civil disobedience.”

  • callouscomic@lemmy.zip
    4·
    6 hours ago

    It’s a targeted hate crime against LGBTQ. If you can’t see that, you’re part of the problem.

    • NateNate60@lemmy.world
      3·
      4 hours ago

      tl;dr “hate crime” has a legal definition and these actions don’t meet that definition. The definition should probably be updated to include this kind of antisocial behaviour.

      Pasting an excerpt from my earlier comment:

      “Hate crime” is a specific legal term. While unfortunate, the parent commenter is right; stealing books even when motivated by hate is not legally considered a hate crime.

      Under federal law, only actions leading to bodily injury or attempts thereof can qualify as hate crimes.

      Under Kentucky law (KRS 532.031), criminal mischief is only considered a hate crime if the amount of damage exceeds $500. While the total cost might exceed that, this is counted on a per-offender basis.

    • massacre@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      4 hours ago

      Absolute trash response. STEALING A BOOK is NOT A HATE CRIME and you diminish real hate crimes against my LGBTQ friends and family by acting like it is. I am absolutely NOT part of whatever problem you think I am. Did you even read the comment? Nevermind… I dont’ care.