Acceptance of others is usually one of the first lessons parents teach their children, but in Brentwood, Mo., a father is outraged because of the portrayal of gay marriage in a children’s book.
When his daughter brought home the book, Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, from the public library, it led James Vandervoort to demand its removal from the shelves.
“The purpose of the book is to help foster acceptance, and to glorify homosexual marriage,” he said. “I think that’s a realistic synopsis of what the book is about.” He goes on further to have the audacity to compare it to pedophilia.
“If we say this is OK, would it be a jump to think that NAMBLA (North American Man/Boy Love Association) in Brentwood or the region would say, ‘we think this is such a good idea, we would like to extend the joys of homosexual marriage to younger people.’”
The children’s book uses gerbils as characters and the little girl gerbil is sad because her favorite uncle is getting married and she’s worried that she’ll lose him as a friend. That uncle just so happens to be marrying another male gerbil.
Not quite the horrific story that Vandervoort is making it out to be. Other than the fact that the two gerbils marrying are males, there is no hint of gay marriage, as the lesson focuses on change and designed to give comfort to a child who’s confused about a major life event. This portrayal of two men marrying is exactly how it should be in the public eye—the issue is obsolete.
The board plans to vote on Vandervoort’s request at the next meeting.
If this book is removed, what is that teaching our children? Hate and prejudice. We have no chance at evolving as long as intolerance is being exposed to the younger generation. Leave it on the shelves for others to enjoy, in hopes that other children will read the charming story about two gerbils in love, who just happen to both be male, and understanding that love is love.
