Gay life books don’t make cut at local library

WASILLA — Wasilla Public Library has decided not to shelve two children’s books dealing with homosexuality donated by a gay activist in California.

Michael Petrelis, a 49-year-old from San Francisco, donated the books in September after learning of Gov. Sarah Palin’s question about banning certain books when she was Wasilla’s mayor.

In 1996 Palin asked Wasilla’s librarian how she would feel about banning certain books at the library. While no books were banned, Palin’s question started a brief controversy over censorship at the library.

Palin reportedly took issue with the book “Pastor, I Am Gay,” by local author and now-retired minister Howard Bess.

The censorship story, reported that year in the Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman, largely faded into history until Republican presidential candidate John McCain named Palin as his running mate in August.

The ensuing media attention rehashed the 12-year-old story.

Petrelis, who runs a popular blog dealing with gay and lesbian issues, donated the books “Heather Has Two Mommies” and “Daddy’s Roommate” during Banned Books Week, the American Library Association’s celebration of the freedom to read.

“I said, ‘I’m going to send copies of both books just to make sure they’re on the shelves,’” Petrelis said in a previous interview.

When the books arrived, Library Director KJ Martin-Albright said they would go through an approval process that doesn’t look at content but focuses more on durability and appeal, and determines whether there is enough space, among other factors.

Petrelis’ donated books failed the test, Martin-Albright said.

“Anything on the library has to earn its real estate,” she said Wednesday.

The Wasilla library does have children’s books dealing with homosexuality, including one title, “And Tango Makes Three,” about two male penguins raising an egg together.

Martin-Albright said the titles Petrelis donated failed to make it on library shelves because they are poorly constructed, lacked engaging illustrations and seemed to lack the ability to engage young readers. The books also appeared unable to stand repeated use, and would have likely fallen apart eventually.

“It really doesn’t have anything to do with the content or lack of content,” Martin-Albright said.

The donated books will go to Friends of Wasilla Library, to be sold during a future book sale. The money generated from those books sales goes to funding projects at the library.

On Wednesday, Petrelis said he’s not disappointed the books didn’t make it onto the shelves. He’s just happy they will eventually support the library somehow.

“I’m hoping that part of my point is to say as a gay man, ‘I support public libraries,’” Petrelis said.

Petrelis also recently donated male and female contraceptives to Wasilla High School, Palin’s alma mater.

Palin advocates for abstinence-only education.

He said he had a “man-to-man” conversation with Wasilla High Principal Dwight Probasco about sex education issues and what he’s up against as an educator.

On Thursday, Probasco said he hasn’t done anything with the contraceptives and isn’t sure what will happen to them.

“I told him [Petrelis] if it was his intent to be able to visualize me standing by the front door handing out condoms, that’s not going to happen,” Probasco said.

For Petrelis, no matter what happens to the items he has donated to the Wasilla library and high school, he said he’s really wants to promote the value of those institutions

“I believe in strong schools and strong libraries,” he said.

Contact Michael Rovito at michael.rovito@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.