bookstores, libraries--why are the black and gay books always shelved next to each other?

I mean, it works out well for me, but it's a curious thing.

Everett "Alx" Alexander, from Reversing Vandalism

Woman charged in library arson

By Jeff Finkelman
Tribune staff reporter
Published June 21, 2006, 8:58 PM CDT

A 21-year-old homeless woman was charged this evening with setting a fire at a Chicago Public Library branch on the North Side that damaged about 100 books, most of them in the gay and lesbian collection.

Erica Graham was charged with one count of attempted aggravated arson in the Tuesday fire at the John Merlo Branch Library, 644 W. Belmont Ave., said Tandra Simonton, spokeswoman for the Cook County state's attorney's office.

"It was not a hate crime," Simonton said of the incident.

She said Graham was arrested today, but could not provide further details.

A patron at the library alerted staff members to a fire on the branch's second floor at about noon Tuesday, said Chicago Police Officer JoAnn Taylor

Firefighters were called, but library staffers were able to put out the fire, said library spokeswoman Maggie Killackey. Killackey said fire damaged about 10 books in the branch's African-American history collection and 90 books in the gay and lesbian collection.

The library remained open.

Killackey said the books will be replaced.

The branch houses about 1,000 books in its gay and lesbian collection, she said.

Graham's last known address was 3179 N. Broadway, Simonton said. The Broadway Youth Center is listed at the Broadway address.

Graham was scheduled to appear in Central Bond Court on Thursday, Simonton said.

Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune

And because he ain't fooling nobody:

Gary Salzman - KTVB

Several books considered controversial by some will remain part of the collection at the Nampa Public Library, but they might not be accessible to library patrons.

Monday afternoon, the Nampa Library Board decided to keep “The Joy of Sex" and "The Joy of Gay Sex" books as part of its collection. However, the books will now be housed on the highest shelf in the library, and library workers will be asked to make more rounds to pick up books left on tables.

Randy Jackson complained to the board about the books, which he feels are pornographic in nature, and too easily accessible by children and teens, “I believe that the library board did not have the best interests of the community in mind when they made their decision today.”

Those who want the books to stay, like Lorrie Breshears, say it's censorship, “Parents should be watching their children and supervising what they are reading. So I prefer it stay where it was so that people wanting that information don't have to ask for it.”

Jackson checked out a copy of the book "The Joy of Gay Sex", and he says he has no plans to return it.