Missouri GOP candidate destroys LGBTQ books with flamethrower: video
Valentina Gomez, a 24-year-old GOP candidate in Missouri, has sparked controversy by burning LGBTQ-friendly books with a flamethrower. In a video shared on social media, Gomez declares her intention to rid local libraries of books she believes are harmful to children. The video has received significant backlash, with many criticizing Gomez's actions and drawing comparisons to book burnings in Nazi Germany. The incident sheds light on the growing trend of book banning and censorship in Republican circles.
Controversial Video Sparks Outrage
Valentina Gomez, a 24-year-old candidate for Missouri's Secretary of State, set off a firestorm of controversy with a video she posted on social media. In the video, Gomez is seen using a flamethrower to burn books about the LGBTQ+ community from a Missouri Public Library. She declares that she will continue to destroy such books if elected to office. The video has garnered widespread criticism and has sparked a debate over censorship and book banning.
One of the books Gomez burned in the video was "Naked: Not Your Average Sex Encyclopedia," which is described as essential reading for teenagers. The other book was "Queer, 2nd Edition: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens." The video has been viewed over 800K times and has received mostly negative responses, with many condemning Gomez's actions as extreme and dangerous.
Comparisons to Nazi Book Burnings
The video of Gomez burning LGBTQ-friendly books has drawn comparisons to the book burnings that took place in Nazi Germany during the 1930s. In Nazi Germany, books that were deemed "Un-German" or subversive were targeted for destruction. The comparison to this dark period in history has further fueled the controversy surrounding Gomez's actions and has sparked discussions about the dangers of censorship and the importance of free speech.
While book burnings may seem like a thing of the past, the incident involving Gomez highlights the growing trend of book banning and censorship in Republican circles. In recent years, many Republican leaders across the country have taken up the cause of banning books that they believe promote harmful ideas or ideologies. This has led to clashes with educators, parents, and free speech advocates who argue that such censorship is a threat to intellectual freedom and diversity of thought.
The Rise of Book Banning and Censorship
Gomez's platform of book banning is not an isolated incident. In several states, including Illinois and Massachusetts, police were called last year when teachers were reading books about gender identity and sexuality in middle school classrooms. There have also been cases where federal judges have blocked laws that sought to ban certain books from school libraries and restrict discussions of LGBTQ issues in the classroom.
According to a report from PEN America, over 1,600 books were banned during the 2021-2022 school year, with more than half of them having LGBTQ+ themes. The American Library Association also reported a record high in efforts to ban books in the US in 2022. These incidents demonstrate the increasing challenges faced by educators and libraries in providing diverse and inclusive reading material for students.
