(Scott McClallen, The Center Square) A GoFundMe fundraising site has garnered more than $245,000 in support of a Mich. library for about a year after voters rejected its millage, angry over LGBTQ books.
Patmos Library in Jamestown Township faced closure next year after voters rejected an Aug. 2 library millage renewal in protest of some graphic LGTBQ content in the library’s collection.
After seeing the millage results, resident Jesse Dillman started a GoFundMe account that less than one month later has more than replaced the library’s $245,000 operating budget.
“I’m extremely happy with the huge outpouring of support the library has received, both the encouragement and the GoFundMe donations,” Dillman told The Center Square in an email.
“It’s clear that people recognize the importance of public spaces for community, and are willing to stand up to protect them and defend against ignorance.”
Romance novelist Nora Roberts gave Patmos Library a $50,0000 donation to break its goal, fueled by more than 4,000 other donors.
“As for what’s next, the Jamestown community has put together a millage committee, which I am now volunteering with,” Dillman said.
“We have efforts well underway now to combat misinformation and encourage the majority of residents who support Patmos Library. John Chrastka from EveryLibrary is working directly with the library to get the GoFundMe money transferred and used in the best way possible, but I am personally hands-off with those decisions at this point.”
At issue are a few LGBTQ books in the Patmos Library, including a graphic novel titled “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe, a writer using the “eir” pronoun.
The book discusses the author’s “gender fluidity” and sexuality, and several panels feature graphic illustrations of sexual activity. The library offers more than 67,000 books.
Some parents objected and created a Facebook page to garner opposition to the library millage vote.
A group calling itself The Jamestown Conservatives formed “to help others of the community to be aware of the pushed agenda of explicit sexual content that is being infiltrated into our local libraries aiming toward our children,” according to its Facebook page.
