West Virginia public library removes LGBTQ children’s book from shelves

An LGBTQ children’s book has been removed from a West Virginia public library amid an outcry from local residents.

The Prince & Knight children’s book is about a prince who falls in love with a male knight, and the Upshur County Public Library Board pulled the book after a local minister alerted officials, according to local outlet WVVA.

The pastor in question released a statement last week claiming the book “is a deliberate attempt to indoctrinate young children, especially boys, into the LGBTQA lifestyle.”

{mosads}Upshur County Public Library Board was scheduled to review the book at its meeting Wednesday night, but Board President Dennis Xander walked out of the meeting before officials decided on a solution, according to the Mountaineer Journal.

“I’m sorry, I’m going to ask everyone to leave now because we have to do the evaluation in executive session,” Xander said to the crowd in attendance for the meeting. “Y’all need to leave.”

Those who were present grew frustrated and asked Xander what was left on the agenda and if the book was going to be discussed behind closed doors, which Xander didn’t answer, according to the news outlet.

Upshur County Public Library Director Paul Norko told the Mountaineer Journal that the book will remain off the shelves until the library board reconvenes in January to review the issue.

The book is published by Little Bee Books in partnership with GLAAD, which issued a statement condemning the pulling of the title.

“The decision to remove Prince & Knight from the shelves of the Upshur County Public Library is an act of discrimination, plain and simple. Inclusive children’s books do not ‘indoctrinate’ but do allow LGBTQ families and their children the chance to see themselves reflected in the world,” GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement.