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Huntington Beach, which restricts certain books and content to minors in city-run public libraries, is currently being sued by three residents along with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in Southern California.
Plaintiffs, including two teenagers and two teenagers and Alianza Translatinx, advocacy group for transgender people, alleges that the Huntington Beach Library System “is in direct violation of California’s Freedom Act and the California Constitution.”
The lawsuit stems from a resolution passed by Huntington Beach City Council in October 2023, making certain library materials inaccessible without parent/guardian consent, including “sexual content.”
However, residents suing the ACLU and the city argue that the phrase “sexual content” is too widely used to wipe out censorship to block literary classics such as “The Great Gatsby” and “Romeo and Juliet.”
The complaint alleges the city is blocking access to educational materials on gender identity and reproductive health.
One of the books that was banned for rental by minors at the Huntington Beach public library includes “Everyone Poops,” a book about children where animals, including humans, must defecate as part of their biology.
“Public libraries are an important resource that provides access to information that improves people’s lives and provides free or low-cost services,” said Ryan M. Kendall, lawyer at Alianza Translatinx. “California law protects the important role libraries play in our community. The lawsuit seeks to free public libraries and their services from censorship and make them accessible to everyone, allowing everyone, from individuals to community organizations to continue to rely on the knowledge and empowerment the libraries offer.”
However, Huntington Beach Mayor Pat Burns has argued that the city has not banned or removed books from the library in response to the lawsuit.
“The safety, health and protection of our community, children and library users remains our main goal,” Burns said in a statement.
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