The ACLU of Wisconsin is preparing to sue the Barron (Wisc.) Area School District over its banning of four gay-themed books.
The group's announcement followed the school board's December 21 reconsideration of its September decision to remove the titles from the high school library. The Barron News-Shield reported December 23 that the board voted to return The Drowning of Stephan Jones but to remove it when a less explicit replacement was found; to return When Someone You Know Is Gay and Two Teenagers in Twenty but to remove them after 90 days whether or not replacements are found; and to permanently remove Baby Be-Bop.
“For the board to be talking about replacing books instead of removing them is a distinction without a difference,” said Chris Ahmuty, executive director of the ACLU of Wisconsin, who said the group expects to file a federal lawsuit after school resumes in January.
Posted December 28, 1998.