Pronoun book recommended for infants among free literature to be given to children by city of Las Vegas
The City of Las Vegas has partnered with JetBlue's "Soar with Reading" program to install vending machines in community centers across the city that provide free books to children. Some of the books in the program, however, appear to promote gender and racial ideologies.
The program, which was launched in 2011, has book-vending machines in Washington, D.C.; Detroit, Michigan; Fort Lauderdale, Florida, New York City, New York; San Francisco, California; and Newark, New Jersey.
JetBlue describes the program as an initiative that "captures kids’ imaginations through reading" and "provides brand new books to children with limited access to book ownership."
Upon review of the program's book list, some of the literature promotes controversial ideologies. For example, "The Pronoun Book" is recommended for ages 0-3. The book is described as "illustrations of a diverse cast of people and simple text that introduces their pronouns, perfect for readers both young and old."
An editorial review on Barnes & Noble's website also listed the book as enforcing "the message that gender identity and pronouns cannot be derived from appearance."
A book called "Black Boy Joy," recommended for ages 10-14, is written by 17 "acclaimed Black male and non-binary authors" and speaks about "the power of joy and the wonders of Black boyhood." A review from Publisher's Weekly on Amazon said the book discusses "subjects such as friendships, gender identity, and family" and is an "exuberant celebration of carefree Black experiences."
"Sharing a Smile," a book recommended for 6-year-olds, uses cover art depicting a granddaughter and her grandfather wearing masks. The book "tells the story of a young girl named Sophie who makes and shares cloth masks with people in her neighborhood," said one review on GoodReads.
\u201cHappy book birthday to Alison Oliver's BE BOLD, BABY!: MICHELLE OBAMA!\u201d— Jarrett Lerner (@Jarrett Lerner) 1539687900
Other books used in the program include failed Georgian Democratic candidate Stacey Abram's "Stacey's Extraordinary Words," a book celebrating Michelle Obama's accomplishments, and even musician Lil Nas X's "C is for Country" book.
Lil Nas X has produced music videos portraying incredibly sexually explicit material and satanic imagery.
City officials said the books will be available for children up to 14 years old through August 6, 2023, while supplies last, according to KTNV Las Vegas.
JetBlue did not respond to request for comment. The City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas mayor's office did not immediately respond to inquiries. This publication will be updated should they provide a response.
\u201cBook Recommendation:\nThe Pronoun Book by Chris Ayala-Kronos\nPlace a hold at https://t.co/QTpmMhyZ4E\n\nFeaturing eye-catching illustrations, a diverse cast of characters & simple text, this joyful book celebrates people and their pronouns. Also available digitally on CloudLibrary!\u201d— Guelph Library (@Guelph Library) 1654610160
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
www.theblaze.com
thefederalist.com
freebeacon.com
City planning rainbow crosswalk to honor '2SLGBTQIA+ community' disables comments on Twitter post about the project
The City of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, is planning to create a rainbow crosswalk in a show of support for those who identify a "2SLGBTQIA+."
Guelph posted a tweet on Monday soliciting comments from the public about how the city can make people feel safe as well as celebrated — the tweet includes the link to a site where people can share their thoughts. On Tuesday, the city appended another post announcing that comments had been disabled on the tweet.
"We’re installing a rainbow crosswalk this month and we want to hear what you need from us as a City to feel included, safe and celebrated in Guelph. Comments are anonymous. Let us know here by May 14," the city tweeted on Monday, providing a link to the haveyoursay.guelph.ca website. "We have turned off comments on this post to ensure that all those who view it can do so in an environment that is respectful to all," the city added in a tweet on Tuesday.
The city offers a "Safe Space Comment Box" on the website where people can provide their opinions about how the city can make people feel as though they are "included, safe and celebrated."
"Inspired by similar installations in other cities worldwide, Guelph citizens requested the City consider the installation at a prominent location in close proximity to downtown. Also, a petition in 2021 garnered over 1900 signatures in support of the rainbow crosswalk," the website claims.
The city is soliciting stories and images from the public about what the crosswalk will mean to them. Guelph is also inviting people to explain how they believe the city should celebrate the launch of the crosswalk.
"For inclusion, the design of the crosswalk is based on the progress flag. The main section of the flag includes the traditional Pride coloured stripes representing life, healing, sunlight, nature, harmony/peace, and spirit. The edge of the flag includes blue and pink stripes to represent the trans community, a brown stripe to represent people of colour, and a black stripe to represent those lost during the AIDS crisis. These are in a chevron shape, with arrow points to the right to indicate forward movement, while set on the edge to show progress still needs to be made," according to the website.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!