Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
Judge rules against Huntington Beach in latest battle over library 'culture wars'
A look inside the Huntington Beach Central Library.
(
Jill Replogle
/
LAist
)
Listen
• 0:46
Huntington Beach suffers legal setback in library 'culture wars'
An Orange County judge ruled Friday that Huntington Beach can’t prohibit minors from accessing books with sexual content at the public library.
What kind of books are we talking about?
Books about puberty and sexuality, including It's Perfectly Normal and The Care and Keeping of You were moved to a restricted section and patrons under 18 have needed a parent’s permission to check them out.
Support for LAist comes from
The backstory
The city passed a resolution in 2023 prohibiting minors from accessing books with sexual content in the public libraries without a parent’s permission. However, “sexual content” was never clearly defined and critics argued it was actually an excuse to restrict books with LGBTQ characters and themes. At one point, librarians were told to remove books from the children’s section that showed any body parts normally covered by a bathing suit.
Why it matters
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with parents who sought to excuse their kids from public school during lessons with LGBTQ themes. Huntington Beach used the decision to argue the state’s Freedom to Read Act, which prohibits libraries from restricting access to books, is unconstitutional.
What did the judge rule?
Orange County Judge Lindsey Martinez rejected that argument, saying parents are still free to choose which books their kids can read at the Huntington Beach library. Martinez found the city’s resolution violates California’s Freedom to Read Act and ordered the city to comply with the law.
Support for LAist comes from
Didn’t voters decide all of this?
Partially. The city had also established a citizen review board with the power to censor children’s books at the library. Huntington Beach voters repealed that review board in a special election in June. But a legal challenge to the sexual content restrictions, led by several city residents and the group Alianza Translatinx, was still pending until now.
What’s next?
Lawyers for the two sides now have to hammer out an agreement detailing how the city will comply. Library advocates, including plaintiff Erin Spivey, hope that will include returning books currently isolated in a “youth restricted area” to the main children’s library, and restoring the now-defunct teen or “young adult” section.
“ Teenage readers are so reluctant to engage with reading anyways,” Spivey said. “When that's closed off and it's all seen as one adult section, you're basically disinviting teenagers to engage with the library.”
Huntington Beach can still appeal the judge’s decision.
How to keep tabs on Huntington Beach
- Huntington Beach holds City Council meetings on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 2000 Main St.
- You can also watch City Council meetings remotely on HBTV via Channel 3 or online, or via the city’s website. (You can also find videos of previous council meetings there.)
- The public comment period happens toward the beginning of meetings.
- The city generally posts agendas for City Council meetings on the previous Friday. You can find the agenda on the city’s calendar or sign up there to have agendas sent to your inbox.
Go deeper …
- Censorship lost in Huntington Beach’s recent special election. Or did it?
- Huntington Beach librarians begin reviewing kids’ books for 'sexual content'
- Voter Game Plan: A guide to Huntington Beach’s special election on public libraries
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison. -
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
-
Hexavalent chromium is the same carcinogen Erin Brockovich warned about in the 1990s, but researchers say more study is needed on the potential health effects of nanoparticles detected earlier this year. Experts will answer questions at a webinar this evening.
-
The budget gap has led to a tuition hike, along with spending cuts and fewer course offerings. At the same time, generative AI already has transformed higher ed — including post-grad job prospects.
-
The construction work is part of a $143.7 million plan to rehabilitate pavement between Van Nuys and Westwood along the Sepulveda Pass.
-
Over $17 million has already been raised to support and oppose Prop. 50, California’s congressional redistricting measure. We fill you in on how to track the money ahead of the special election on Nov. 4.
Best of LAist