In the US, the National Assembly condemned the burning of a sexual book in Quebec

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Quebec politicians are rallying this week over local authors whose children's books have been “censored,” including an American politician's sexualized teen work that was burned with flamethrowers.

In a unanimous vote on Thursday, members of the provincial legislature, Elisa Gravel, Miriam Daguzan Bernier and Cécile Gariepi confirmed their support.

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“The National Assembly reiterates its support for freedom of opinion, freedom of expression and the free circulation of ideas,” said the motion introduced by Quebec MNA Sol Zanetti.

A Montreal newspaper reported Wednesday that Gravel's books had been removed from public shelves at the Montreal Jewish Public Library after complaints about the writer/illustrator's social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war.

30 of his books are now available only to readers who request them. The library said it made the move in recognition of “sensitivity regarding the author's social media posts.”

Gravel regularly shares images of the cartoon character who makes statements in solidarity with the Palestinians on Instagram and TikTok.

Gravel, whose book La clé à molette won the 2012 Governor General's Literary Award for French-language children's illustration, responded to the criticism by saying, “I am very critical of the Israeli government and its military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. I strongly condemn anti-Semitism.”

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He clarified some of his statements on social media. For example, he initially withdrew the suggestion that “Israel has the world's largest skin bank collected from Palestinians.” He said the claim was “problematic because it is an unsubstantiated claim.”

The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs said Gravel's online activities “contribute to an alarming rise in anti-Semitism.” In one of his posts, the organization said he was using the “anti-Semitic trope of ritual murder” when he wrote that “we sure agree with the idea of ​​exterminating Palestinians like insects.” Even children, even newborns.'

Another case involves the book Naked: Not Your Average Sex Encyclopedia, written by Daguzan Bernier and illustrated by Gariepi.

Valentina Gomez, the Republican candidate for Missouri Secretary of State, posted a video on social media Tuesday showing her taking a candle to two books, including The Naked One.

“When I become Secretary of State, I will burn all the books that educate, teach and sexualize our children,” he wrote X. “MAGA. America First”.

Orca Book Publishers says on its website that Naked “answers questions about sexuality that teenagers have always had but are afraid to ask.” What is an agreement? What does gender fluid mean? What form of contraception should I use?'

According to Zanetti, book burnings are “an attack on freedom of opinion, freedom of speech and the free movement of ideas, and it's also an attack on the freedom of children who are deprived of education that is essential to their development.” This is child abuse, which has all the consequences of being ignorant.”

He also criticized the removal of Gravel's books. Zanetti said the Jewish Public Library took the step “because it supports the Palestinian cause.”

Quebec's culture minister, Mathieu Lacombe, compared the two incidents to the actions of an “old priest from the 1900s.”

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