Challenged Books at Dothan-Houston County Library
In September-October 2023, the Dothan-Houston County Library System received twenty-one challenge forms. Like other book challengers, individuals objected to LGBTQ content, claiming children's picture books like Rainbow: A First Book of Pride could sexualize children.
An important shift occurred in Dothan. Challengers started to target books in ADULT sections. Previously, Clean Up Alabama, Moms For Liberty, and other anti-library extremists had targeted only chidren's and teen books, claiming they had no problem with books in Adult sections. We warned that given enough time, extremists would move their goalposts and start attacking Adult books - which is exactly what happened in Dothan.
Individuals vehemently opposed two books shelved in the Adult section. Challengers said that Gender Queer, an autobiographical graphic novel, "offended [them] as a Christian" and "no place in a civil society." Another challenger claimed that The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison's classic, was "filthy," "vulgar" and was a "shameful book to have anywhere."
A sample of the Dothan challenge forms are below - you can view all twenty-one forms here
