Yay! That's a good one. Nicole writes a great tune!

Honored to have my band on your list! Thanks for coming out to see Awful Purdies!!

Please contact your legislators today and OPPOSE SF235!

7. Slippery Slope of Censorship: Once exemptions are removed, laws could be expanded or misused to suppress broader categories of speech, including scientific, artistic, and political discourse.

6. If educators and librarians can be prosecuted or sued for providing access to materials deemed inappropriate, they may self-censor out of fear, even when materials have clear educational value. This could also deter professionals from working in these fields.

5. Historically, censorship disproportionately affects books by and about marginalized communities, particularly LGBTQ+ individuals and people of color. Without exemptions, books discussing gender identity, sexual orientation, or racial injustice could be unfairly removed.

4. Impact on Intellectual Freedom: Public libraries and schools are meant to provide broad access to diverse ideas and perspectives. Restricting certain materials under the guise of obscenity laws limits individuals' ability to explore, learn, and form independent opinions.

3. Many classic literary works, from The Catcher in the Rye to Beloved, contain content that some may find offensive. If schools and libraries fear prosecution, they might preemptively ban books that address complex themes like race, sexuality, and history.

2. Obscenity is a legal term with strict criteria, but its interpretation varies. Without clear guidelines, content deemed educational, artistic, or culturally significant might be misclassified as obscene, leading to censorship based on subjective opinions rather than legal standards.

1. If libraries and schools could be held liable for providing materials deemed "obscene," they might over-censor to avoid legal trouble. This could lead to the removal of books, educational materials, and even databases that contain any controversial or mature content.

SF235: This bill removes obscenity exemptions for public libraries and educational institutions, which is dangerous to freedom of speech for several reasons:

I need this show back in my like! Freddy!

My work/art are my path to the world I want. I fundraise/advocate for a public library & perform music that creates joy, honors the black creators of jazz, and empowers women. Plus, the "work" of child-rearing is in constant communication with future building!❤️

I'm living the mini van life and heard they're going to mostly stop manufacturing them so I need to get a NEW one so that I can drive one forever!