Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton made a statement on Twitter claiming that more than half the book bans attempted last year involved books containing LGBTQ+ characters and themes. However, a fact check conducted on Twitter later discovered that the book she referenced in her tweet contained sexually explicit material. This revelation caused controversy and highlighted the importance of accuracy and responsibility in public statements.
Why do you think this is appropriate for small children? pic.twitter.com/FIdOUZSqD3
— James the unvacinated jackhole (@TheN1James) April 30, 2023
Erroneous Claim and Controversy. The tweet from Clinton generated controversy when it was revealed that the book she mentioned, “Gender Queer,” contained explicit sexual material, including depictions of oral sex, masturbation, and sexual contact between an adult and a minor. The fact check emphasized that the books were not banned but instead removed from school libraries. It is essential to distinguish between book removal and book bans because the former usually occurs due to content deemed inappropriate for a particular age group, while the other is usually driven by ideological or political motivations.
Why do you believe that young children must have access to cartoons of teenage boys performing oral sex on each other, Chelsea? https://t.co/QPSYEj0VdU
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) May 1, 2023
Clinton’s Response and Community Notes. Despite multiple people informing Clinton of the book’s content, she has yet to update, clarify, or retract her original tweet. This has raised concerns about the accuracy and responsibility of public statements, particularly when they involve sensitive issues like LGBTQ+ representation in literature. Community notes, such as the one added to Clinton’s tweet, are non-partisan and mostly correct, unlike different ‘fact checks’ that have been accused of being extremely biased and incorrect.
"Conservatives are banning books from school libraries!"
"No we're not. We just want don't want graphic porn in there. Like this one."
"How dare you send me this unsolicited pic of a blow job readily available to a 14-year-old in their school." pic.twitter.com/knpxkIzN6L
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) May 1, 2023
Critics have pointed out that Clinton’s tweet is not only factually incorrect but also potentially harmful, as it promotes a book that contains pornographic content as appropriate for children. This is a dangerous precedent because it can desensitize children to inappropriate content and undermine efforts to protect them from sexual exploitation and abuse. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro criticized Clinton’s tweet and questioned why young children must have access to cartoons of teenage boys performing oral sex on each other.
