BOISE, Idaho — More than 100 people crowded into a room at the Meridian Library’s main branch on Wednesday night for a heated debate where people voiced concerns or offered their support about what books were accessible to children.
Chairs were stuck in every crevice of the room, and, when they were filled, people lined up in the hallway and leaned against the walls, overflowing into the entryway. A handful of attendees showed up with copies of “It’s Perfectly Normal” or “Sex is a Funny Word” — sex education books for children that have become increasingly controversial. Others wore T-shirts in support of LGBTQ rights or the freedom to read.
In line with similar movements across the U.S., the Meridian Library District’s monthly board meetings — events that normally draw few people — became a target after a group of Idaho residents accused the library of distributing “smut filled pornography” to children.
