A conservative group, Advocates for Truth in Our Schools (ATOS) was barred from hosting an event at the Kennebunk Free Library about the local school district’s policies on transgender children.
“It seems that libraries are no longer places that provide information and education – not exactly the stance one would expect from a library,” said the ATOS.
The same library hosted a trans activist to educate people on how to be trans “allies,” particularly focusing on transgender children.
ATOS reserved space in the Kennebunk library to hold a discussion of transgender policies in the RSU 21 school district, and to inform parents about the effect of those policies on their children.
When ATOS first approached the library, Conners allowed them to reserve space, but only on the condition that they not promote the event as informational or educational, and that they not use “Advocates for Truth in Our Schools” as the organization’s name.
Conners recommended that ATOS invite a representative of the school district to speak at the meeting as well, but did not impose that as a requirement.
Conners revoked ATOS’ permission after Erin Nadeau, a member of the RSU 21 school board, reached out complaining about the promotional flyer.
“[The school’s transgender policy] is presented as something the community should be alarmed about, despite our transgender student policy being in place for quite some time, and then revised to reflect current law,” said Nadeau, “The outreach to staff was an attempt to discredit the importance of respecting and supporting the rights transgender and gender expansive students in our district. “
Permission was revoked on the grounds that the flyer, which, as demanded, did not mention the group’s name, told attendees that they would “learn.”
“Your application for a room reservation was approved as long as it remained a discussion and was not promoted as informational or educational. Because of this, unfortunately, I must cancel your room reservation at Kennebunk Free Library,” said Kennebunk Library director Michelle Conners.
Although the flyer marketed the event as a discussion rather than an educational lecture, the library could not accept the risk that Conservatives might learn on their premises.
“Learn what these policies are, when they were enacted, how they affect your family,” said the flyer.
That one line was enough to bar ATOS from using the library’s public forum for its event.
The Kennebunk Library has an entirely different standard for events advocating for far-left social policies.
In 2023, the library proudly promoted a presentation sponsored by the far-left organization Maintransnet, which prides itself on “redefining gender.”
The presentation, “Understanding Gender and Sexuality,” was hosted by Christine Caulfield, a biological man identifying as a woman, and was marketed on educating the public.
“This workshop’s aims are to present basic terminology that will help clarify participants’ understanding of gender and sexual identities,” said the event’s promotional material, “to explore and discuss sources and impacts of discrimination against gender non-conforming people, especially within the younger population, and lastly, how to understand and improve one’s role as an ally/supporter of those within the LGBTQ community.”
The Mainetransnet event was held in two sessions, one in August and one in September.
Despite being a workshop intended to educate based on a particular political view, rather than merely a discussion, this event was promoted by the library, while ATOS’ was barred.
The library’s selective application of certain requirements displays a clear political bias in what is meant to be a public, unbiased institution and forum.
Other far left events promoted by the library include the upcoming “Body Positivity in Hiking.”
Currently, the ATOS is searching for another venue to host their event, and hopes to hold it on March 12, the same date that had been reserved for it at the library.
They should change their name to Library of indoctrination.
Seems as if the “FREE” in the library name is now “false advertising.” No more “free and equal” when it comes to community service. Too bad the town doesn’t ditch their funding until they return to some integrity.
That’s Kennebunk. Run by woke progressives.
Librarians and people who work in libraries all run in the same progressive (commie) circles which is why they have regular climate change presentations at the Falmouth Library, but never invite legitimate climatologists such as Professor David Dilley to speak. Yet, whenever libraries have fundraisers, those same Elmer Fuds are more than willing to take donations from the wascally capitalist wabbits.
Sadly Kennebunk is in the middle of the Peoples Republic of Maine that is a totally socialistic dictators realm. No views that are contrary to the politburos are allowed. Now sit down and shut up the Chairwoman has spoken!
I’ve been a professional librarian, meaning I have a master’s degree in library science & 40 years seasoned experience doing every kind of library job there is, including being a director. So, I’m qualified to pull back the curtain & tell you, libraries are in decline, though they don’t want you to know that fact. Their problem is public trust.
When bringing a child into a Children’s Room, a parent should expect wholesomeness, not angst about progressive sexual slants on displays or pornographic literature on the shelves. A conservative speaker shouldn’t have to be concerned that his or her well planned event will be cancelled because it may offend leftists.
Libraries like the Kennebunk PL do not truthfully serve patrons to the best of their ability. As an American library, they should be defending patrons’ 1st Amendment Right to Free Speech, yet they cling foremost to the far left American Library Association for guidance.
Like most American institutions, libraries have been in degenerative mode for decades. Professional librarians were taught to always BALANCE their collections, programs, events, displays & avoid personnel opinion when disseminating information to a patron because, not all people think alike. With this mantra in mind, reflecting the community they serve, makes a great library, amongst other factors. Patrons formerly trusted that BALANCE would be reflected on the shelves; issues both pro & con, on all subjects, would be at their fingertips. The Dewey Decimal System purposely makes room for ALL subjects. However, librarians have shredded library neutrality for the rhetoric for social justice. The majority in this field now proclaim themselves to be social justice warriors. How chaotic is that mindset?!
Libraries are supposed to cater to a community, not act as vehicles to bring about Marxist revolutions or promote gender & critical race theories. Librarians are supposed to be working for ALL their patrons, not pushing their Marxist ideologies. They now openly support exposing sexuality to children, union-led political strife, socialist politicians, & pushing explicit & far-left material on unwilling taxpayers.
Patrons, rethink what you expect from your own library, one sided agendas or information for ALL. Maybe Kennebunk needs a leadership overhaul of trustees & director, certainly of their unfair, inequitable policies.
I’ve been a professional librarian, meaning I have a master’s degree in library science & 40 years seasoned experience doing every kind of library job there is, including being a director. So, I’m qualified to pull back the curtain & tell you, libraries are in decline, though they don’t want you to know that fact. Their problem is public trust.
When bringing a child into a Children’s Room, a parent should expect wholesomeness, not angst about progressive sexual slants on displays or pornographic literature on the shelves. A conservative speaker shouldn’t have to be concerned that his or her well planned event will be cancelled because it may offend leftists.
Libraries like the Kennebunk PL do not truthfully serve patrons to the best of their ability. As an American library, they should be defending patrons’ 1st Amendment Right to Free Speech, yet they cling foremost to the far left American Library Association for guidance.
Like most American institutions, libraries have been in degenerative mode for decades. Professional librarians were taught to always BALANCE their collections, programs, events, displays & avoid personnel opinion when disseminating information to a patron because, not all people think alike. With this mantra in mind, reflecting the community they serve, makes a great library, amongst other factors. Patrons formerly trusted that BALANCE would be reflected on the shelves; issues both pro & con, on all subjects, would be at their fingertips. The Dewey Decimal System purposely makes room for ALL subjects. However, librarians have shredded library neutrality for the rhetoric for social justice. The majority in this field now proclaim themselves to be social justice warriors. How chaotic is that mindset?!
Libraries are supposed to cater to a community, not act as vehicles to bring about Marxist revolutions or promote gender & critical race theories. Librarians are supposed to be working for ALL their patrons, not pushing their Marxist ideologies. They now openly support exposing sexuality to children, union-led political strife, socialist politicians, & pushing explicit & far-left material on unwilling taxpayers.
Patrons, rethink what you expect from your own library, one sided agendas or information for ALL. Maybe Kennebunk needs a leadership overhaul of trustees & director, certainly of their unfair, inequitable policies.
If liberals didn’t have double standards, they would have no standards.
Librarians tend to be intolerant and tyrannical toward anything center or right of center.
This is a perfect example of radical far left ideology where inclusion is the mantra but it always comes at the exclusion of others.
Public schools in Maine are in lockstep with Satanic forces.
Someone should walk in and do a 1st amendment audit on them and film the place.
When I called my local library to complain about them flying the Communist Chinese Flag in front of the library, I was told that they do not practice censorship. Well I guess truth-fullness is no longer a virtue in our libraries. BTW, isn’t this Library Director running for the Maine House of Representatives in Alfred & Waterboro District 136 as a Democrat? How fascist the democrats have become.
The easiest way to make them realize we don’t agree with their policies is to cancel your membership and don’t donate money to them….