Valentina Gomez, a GOP candidate from Missouri, has stirred up controversy by using a flamethrower to burn books she claims are attempting to 'groom' children. The incident, captured in a video shared on social media, has raised concerns and prompted a significant backlash. In the video, Gomez is shown burning LGBTQ+ library books, explicitly stating her intention to continue such actions if elected, accompanied by intense rap music for added drama.

The burned books included "Naked: Not Your Average Sex Encyclopedia" and "Queer, 2nd Edition: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens." Gomez stated that these books were from a Missouri Public Library. These books offer inclusive and truthful guidance on sexuality and LGBTQ+ identity for teenagers.

Public Response and Backlash

By the afternoon of February 7, the video had garnered 800,000 views and numerous predominantly negative comments. Gomez's actions faced criticism and raised doubts about her suitability to run for office. Some criticized her advocacy of censorship by book burning for being ironic. In contrast, others likened her tactics to Ray Bradbury's dystopian novel "Fahrenheit 451" and actual Nazi Germany events.

The video's visibility was restricted due to its violation of the platform's policies. Users criticized Gomez's position in comments on the platform, questioning whether it was proper for a politician to support book burning publicly.

Kathy Belge, one of the authors of "Queer: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens," suggested that Gomez should focus on real issues and refrain from targeting queer kids. Belge also stated that Americans should be concerned that a public office candidate finds book burning acceptable and sees it as a strategy for winning elections.

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Sarah Kate Ellis, the president and CEO of GLAAD, strongly criticized Gomez's post. Ellis stated that attention-seeking candidates like Gomez fail to gauge public sentiment: voters reject book bans and candidates who ban books.

Based on an October Ipsos report, 78 percent of voters expressed a decreased likelihood of supporting a candidate endorsing book bans. Democrats and independents are more inclined than Republicans to say a reduced likelihood of supporting such a candidate in 2024. Nevertheless, most Republicans still indicated they would be less likely to support a candidate endorsing age restrictions for library cards or supporting book bans.

Book Banning Trend Among Republican Leaders

Gomez's controversial act aligns with a broader trend among some Republican leaders who have taken up the cause of banning certain books. Instances of police intervention in Illinois and Massachusetts, where teachers were reading books on gender identity and sexuality in middle school classrooms, exemplified the growing tension surrounding these issues.

Across the United States, legal battles over book bans in schools have become increasingly common. Federal judges in Iowa have blocked laws preventing the discussion of LGBTQ+ issues. Florida has also taken steps to restrict in-class discussions on gender and sexuality. 

PEN America's report reveals that over half of the 1,600 banned novels during the 2021-2022 school year have LGBTQ+ themes. Moreover, in 2022, the American Library Association noted a peak in attempts to ban books in the United States, underscoring the challenges librarians and educators encounter in upholding intellectual freedom amidst divisive public discussions. 

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