Homosexual Book

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Elementary School Protects Children From Homosexual Book

Special Report - March 29, 2004
A Wilmington family’s battle to protect their first grader from an elementary school library book promoting same-sex “marriage” ended on March 27, when the school’s book review committee ruled 8 to 3 to restrict access to the book to adults only. As we reported on March 19, the controversy began earlier this month when Michael and Tonya Hartsell’s seven year-old daughter brought home a book called King & King from the Rachel Freemen Elementary school library, where she attends first grade. Written and illustrated by Dutch authors Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland, the fairy tale tells the story of a homosexual prince who falls in love with another prince, and ends with the two men married and locked in a kiss, with their lips covered by a red heart. On March 22, the Hartsell’s filed a written complaint about King & King with the school. Another couple filed a similar complaint about the book the same week. After reviewing the book and the complains from parents, the school committee decided to keep the book locked up at the elementary school library and only allow adults to check it out. The Hartsell’s have said that they are satisfied with the committee’s decision.

The Hartsell’s are not the only North Carolinians to be upset by the pro-homosexual children’s book. King & King has also gotten the attention of U.S. Congressman Walter Jones (R-NC), who recently sent a letter to State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mike Ward, asking that the book be removed from all North Carolina elementary schools. According to CNSNews.com, Rep. Jones wrote in the letter: “the fact that this book—aimed at validating a view of marriage that is inconsistent with North Carolina law—is in an elementary school library is indicative of a larger problem…Namely, either the State Board of Education has inadequate policies surrounding the selection and procurement of library books, or it is inadequately enforcing whatever rules it has.” Rep. Jones continued in the letter, “The choice of whether—and how—to expose such controversial topics to young children should be placed in the hands of parents, not unelected and unaccountable school officials. Parents expect that their tax dollars will not be used to undermine their values.”