I sent this email this morning to the DA's office. I copied Sheriff Whittle. If they are going to threaten to jail librarians for Gender Queer, then I should be arrested today.
Recently I attended a Board of Commissioners meeting. At that meeting, Commissioner Melear held up a passage from the book Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. She asserted that the book was previously located in the children's section of the public library. I believe she was misinformed because that book was always shelved downstairs with other adult graphic novels in the graphic novel section. It was recently moved to Adult Biographies which makes 0 sense to me since it's a graphic novel, but I digress. However, I'm concerned that Commissioner Melear stated she had talked to both Bobby Christine and Sheriff Whittle about that book. She said that they stated that if anyone showed that book to a child, they would be arrested -I'm presuming she means under OCGA 16-12-102 and 16-12-103. I have three teenagers in my home. They are ages 14, 16, and 18 years old. I purchased Gender Queer either from Amazon or from Barnes & Noble a few years ago. The book is currently on a shelf in my living room. In fact, I attached a picture for the DA to use as evidence. Is this book considered "Harmful to Minors" under 16-12-102? Should I expect a knock on my door from the police? Should I go turn myself in? Should I ask Sheriff Whittle - I copied him on the email? I'm not throwing away my book. Any insight you can provide would be helpful.
Respectfully,
~Karin Parham