Igniting a Conversation About Uncle Bobby’s Wedding

Posted Nov 05, 2012 by Alejandro De La Cruz

A Brentwood, Michigan library proposed to ban children’s book, Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, pictured above.

People are constantly bringing up serious issues on Causes, especially issues of equality. Last month, cause leader Andrew Willis launched a petition in response to the banning of a children’s book from a library in Brentwood, Michigan and won. Uncle Bobby’s Wedding is the story of two male animals who find love. After a Brentwood resident complained about his child checking out the book, the library was poised to ban it. That’s when Andrew jumped into action. “It just seemed incredible that any library would take out a book about two animals that were married. We monitor the news and we’re always looking for ways to advance equality; to ignite conversations about equality.”

Screen Shot 2012-11-01 at 5.39.38 PM — Andrew’s petition gained more than 2,500 signatures and forced a book ban to be overturned.

Last week, the library reversed its decision to ban the book. Andrew’s petition, with more than 2,500 signature, highlighted the issue in Michigan to people from around the world. Andrew believes the collection of signatures is a powerful, unified voice that has helped bring the issue of equality to the forefront of the discussion. “What the petition did was allow thousands of people to raise their collective voice as one powerful voice.”

Andrew’s cause, Gay Rights are Human Rights, is focused on the LGBTQ community’s fight to be recognized as equal citizens, but he was clear to point out the specific intersection of topics within the Uncle Bobby petition. “It’s not just about gay marriage, but it’s also about the broader issue of rights for gay people. It’s also the broader conversation of freedom of speech in this country.”

Andrew noted in our interview that these cases, although unknown to a national audience, are conversation springboards with great value. With more than 140,000 members, Andrew hopes to, as he puts it, “ignite conversations” that will challenge the way people act, feel, and think about certain questions concerning equality. For now, he’s happy to see that so many people were willing to sign his petition and collectively inspire dialogue.

Tags: books, cause leader, free speech, gay rights, petition

http://profiles.google.com/cybervigilante Jim Mooney

Texas is wrecking the national textbooks because they insist on anti-science crap. Many national books edit their text to please the troglodytes in Texas, since it is a huge market, so this affect the entire nation. We don’t need this stupidity to spread.
- http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SGVMEBA67IEXRYN6WSB7VPDB6E Stand Up America
  
  Everyone else is stupid when they don’t share your myopic view.
- Exalted Dirt
  
  Macroevolutionism is not science. It is a belief system.
Truthseeker

Ugh. Really? Yes, lets start by ruining our children’s values of moral right and wrong. Victory for evil.
- rational101
  
  You’d prefer teaching them to be bigots? You just forfeited the high road when it comes to teaching “morality”!
  - ber
    
    I would rather have children that hated gays than a gay child…read the BIBLE they are an abomonation before GOD.
    - rational101
      
      And Jesus said that…where? Oh right, he didn’t. He said “Love one another as I have loved you”…he didn’t add, “but that excludes the gays”.
      
      Children who turn out to be gay are just as deserving of God’s love as anybody else.
      
      Your Old Testament mentality is a little stale. How about “Judge not, lest ye be judged”?
      - Exalted Dirt
        
        “Judge not, lest ye be judged” is a stale mentality for permissiveness, but the blatant hatred spoken of above is wrong as well.
      - http://www.facebook.com/deirdre.pasko Deirdre Wagner
        
        The phrase ‘judge not….’ does not at all mean what most ignorant people have twisted it to be. It MEANS that we cannot judge a person’s *heart*, because we are not in *their* shoes, but if you read further, then you will SEE that the person who is in the *wrong*, their wrong MUST BE brought before the Elders, so that the person who is in the *wrong* can be set straight. Understand now? The problem with homosexuality in the USA, is, it’s like a thief in the night..it snuck in while peaceful people weren’t looking, and now evil has infiltrated practically every corner, particularly parading itself as ‘innocent’, to those who are actually innocent, and that’s the children. It’s only *when* people realize that they’ve been tricked by the devil that they are “okay”, will things actually start to change, but I don’t see that happening for a while yet, because the devil isn’t done with destroying America yet.
    - KM.Grandstaff
      
      The bible was written by man, man is fallible. The bible also talks about stoning people and an eye for an eye..do we do these things any longer? Please don’t hide behind the bible and pick and choose what suits you :) Apparently you and I don’t have the same God, or the same Jesus…neither of mine are “haters”. My son is a beautiful, brilliant, intelligent young man, and a credit to me every day…and he is gay. I cannot imagine anyone further from being an abomination. I’m sorry for you, I truly am.
      - Exalted Dirt
        
        This is difficult, but it’s still true. Homosexuality is sexual perversion. Your son is in bondage to demonic powers. That is the abomination.
      - http://www.facebook.com/deirdre.pasko Deirdre Wagner
        
        I think that went over their heads.
    - A person speaking for many.
      
      I do not know whose book you’ve been reading, but that’s not in the Bible. I think you need to open your mind and read the real Bible.
    - http://www.facebook.com/sarah.secreto.1 Sarah Secreto
      
      I sincerely hope your child is homosexual and gets massive support from elsewhere then sees you for the hater you truly are and disowns you.
      - Exalted Dirt
        
        I could see that happening. That is truly what “Judge not, lest ye be judged” means. This parent needs to change his thinking. Love rejoices in truth.
    - Exalted Dirt
      
      Come on! You know that’s wrong.
  - Mom
    
    I don’t teach my children to be bigots, but we don’t have to condone the behavior doesn’t mean we hate. We have a right to disagree and we don;t need this aimed at our children
  - http://www.facebook.com/deirdre.pasko Deirdre Wagner
    
    Speaking of bigots……you’re doing a great job with your own!
    - rational101
      
      Thank you, Deirdre. I am proud to say that my own two children and my two step-children–all heterosexual–are kind, tolerant, and accepting of other people, regardless of their gender orientation.
Chuck

Yes we can have discussions about any subject, But stop targeting the Kids to prove a point
Non-gays have rights too

Targeting children, really? Makes me not want to sign any more petitions! Rubbish!!
- Cristian Cocos
  
  Sorry to bring this up, but non-gays have no rights in the new LGBT-compliant world. On a related note, I hear the government will start issuing LGBT-compliance certificates, and being LGBT compliant will become mandatory come 2014 for all commercial entities. We, straight bigots, will have to get our act together, or else face severe punishment.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SGVMEBA67IEXRYN6WSB7VPDB6E Stand Up America

The methodology for the atheistic Marxists is to break down the belief in God, and all the mores related to God, starting with the youth. Once you separate the youth from the parents, you have broken the culture. Removing God removes all hope. It also removes God’s blessings. Of course, in today’s PC culture, to even consider God relegates me to the category of inconsequential, or worse, the despised. History has shown homosexuality rises as a culture disintegrates, and God is removed. There really is just good and evil in the world. Remove good and the vacuum is filled with evil.
- Britt
  
  Amen, brotha amen! Let us live in a hole and hate and judge one another because that’s what God would want! Btw you’re not despised because you consider “god” you’re despised because that’s all you will consider, you moron. People like you are oppressors, and my dear sir you oppress with religion. Wasn’t one of gods messages something about not judging because that’s his job?
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003299273145 Dustin Brinnon
    
    There is oppression on both sides of the fence. There are those of us that believe in God that force our ways, but there are equally as many on the other side – and it is that side that holds most sway due to it being more socially acceptable. Furthermore, the oppression is even more substantiated with unbelievers forcing their beliefs (see FFRF). Point being, taking to claiming someone is oppressive falls onto – most commonly – an individual.
  - ber
    
    Read the BIBLE…then tell us about GOD…he is angry…God destroyed people for way less…recheck yourself.
  - Exalted Dirt
    
    Yes, but that’s not judging. We’re telling people there’s hope for them in Jesus Christ. Warning someone of impending eternal damnation is not judging. Telling them they’re doomed without hope is.
    - http://www.facebook.com/deirdre.pasko Deirdre Wagner
      
      If people would read the entire verse on judging, they might be able to understand what the passage is actually saying, which, in a way,…is judging.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SGVMEBA67IEXRYN6WSB7VPDB6E Stand Up America

Since science/atheism is the religion of the age, and everything has a purpose in science, what is the scientific purpose of homosexuality?
- Britt
  
  I think you’re confusing science and religion. In religion everything has a purpose and in science everything is an event started by another very unlikely event. We are all accidents :) there was no intention therefore no purpose.
Cristian Cocos

One of the major raisons d’etre of any (English language) library, esp. libraries targeting children, is to contribute to the spreading and popularizing of English language standards of correctness. Books such as this not only that do not do that, but by employing syntagms such as “same-sex marriage” (an English-language oxymoron if there ever was one) and the like, they openly, aggressively, and arrogantly flaunt their utter disregard for linguistic correctness. This is not a nice way to treat children.
- rational101
  
  Excuse me, but you are trying to equate some imagined social standard of “correctness” with linguistic correctness. They are not even close to being the same thing.
Starri33

why do we continue the bigotry and prejudice?
- Exalted Dirt
  
  Jesus saves.
- http://www.facebook.com/deirdre.pasko Deirdre Wagner
  
  because both sides partake
http://www.facebook.com/peggy.winkel Peggy Winkel

Marriage equality is a victory for love and respect. If you really need to demonize other people for being the way they are (and are created by God, if you are inclined that way), I guess you lost. I am very happy that more of humanity is welcoming gays, lesbians and transgendered, etal into the world where they can be openly who they are with the same rights as the rest of us. The beauty and love of the world will only increase. We are blessed to have other versions of relationship and expression and we need that badly after a millenia of rigid gender roles and power imbalances, including downright insensible interpretations of other people based on gender and skin color. I celebrate love and compassion.
- RobBob63
  
  God does not approve of such marriages, true God still loves them, but need to read the Bible to see how He feels about such matters. How you or I feel about it doesn’t make it right or wrong, God’s word does that. Why do you think Sodom was destroyed?
  - DCGuide
    
    What about people who don’t subscribe to your religious belief system — people of other faiths or who have no faith at all? The Bible cannot be used endlessly to engineer behaviors that its believers adhere to. Additionally, people cherry pick the proscriptions in the Bible. Some proscriptions reinforce their preconceived notions and others they ignore because they are clearly antiquated (the pork prohibition being one).
    
    I remember when little black dolls were introduced to help a child of color feel part of the fabric of our society. This is a similar thing. A story about two male bears getting married is not going to change the orientation of a child who would be drawn to the opposite gender. It will simply help those drawn to their own gender feel that they are part of the grand scheme of things. It will also help children be more tolerant of their fellow human beings who may be different from themselves.
    - Exalted Dirt
      
      Popular rhetoric. Great to round in circles with.
    - http://www.facebook.com/deirdre.pasko Deirdre Wagner
      
      Okay, if you see nothing wrong with persuading young children to your point of view, then to be fair, you wouldn’t mind at all that I do the same with your children, with my beliefs, right? RIGHT? BTW, God has other names, like…..Allah. Allah doesn’t condone homosexuality either. Muslims are taught to just out-right kill homosexuals, Christians are a little more compassionate.
  - http://www.facebook.com/john.sensbach John Sensbach
    
    Oh no he didn’t! Sodom was destroyed because ALL MANNER OF EVIL WAS IN THAT TOWN. Not limited to: Beasteality, Idolatry, etc. etc. etc. Stop using Sodom as a vendetta against Loving same sex committed couples…Try reading the whole Bible instead of pushing your Agenda. People fear what it is they do NOT or choose not to understand!
    - http://www.facebook.com/deirdre.pasko Deirdre Wagner
      
      Homosexuality was included. Period.
  - http://www.facebook.com/deirdre.pasko Deirdre Wagner
    
    Allah doesn’t approve of it either. I can’t think of any God who does, except for the atheists god, which is the almighty dollar.
- ajilimoly
  
  100% agree with you Peggy!!!! They demonize them until they discover all the hidden gays in their family’s,church,relatives and friends.
the medical guy

I say let the children grow up first. then when they can understand what it is to be gay and or lesbian then they can choose what works for them . Do not dampen and malign them with these early thoughts about different sexual oreintations. they have a hard enough time just growing up in this world without confusing them more. Be a supportive parent and family member for those who feel they may be gay and or lesbian.
- Mom
  
  I agree totally.
- http://www.facebook.com/michael.drzyzga.5 Michael Drzyzga
  
  Except that it exists around them. There are children of gay parents. Whether it’s adoption, donor sperm, donor womb (whatever the correct term is), or child from a previous heterosexual relationship, some kids are going to encounter the idea of homosexuality anyway. Moreover, to breed tolerance we should make sure the idea is familiar, not shocking and strange.
  - Exalted Dirt
    
    There’s a difference between tolerance and education. There are different types of tolerance as well.
  - kawena
    
    Using animals is a strange way of going about it. Animals in the real world don’t display these tendencies and it could be confusing for a young child to understand what is going on. Moreover, tolerance is a way of silencing people with an opposing opinion.
    - Jojo
      
      Actually homosexuality is found in over 400 species.
      - Exalted Dirt
        
        Cannibalism and incest are found among those numbers too.
      - Tiredofpropagansa
        
        Name them.
    - Jojo
      
      Actually homosexuality is found in over 400 species.
- http://www.facebook.com/deirdre.pasko Deirdre Wagner
  
  I agree! Children are innocent, Leave Them Alone!!!
YogaMama

I’m glad the library reversed its decision regarding this book. What a great way to begin the discussion of people who are gay and teach our children tolerance and respect. Way to go!
- Tewana Secumbah
  
  You need a fruit tree so that you can benefit from the fruit. You have a choice between an apple tree that produces apples and one that doesn’t. Which one do you choose?
ber

The book should be banned. It is immorale…
- http://www.facebook.com/robbie.terrygomez Robbie Terry Gomez
  
  you as a parent have every right to not let your kids read it. Not every parent feels the same, and it’s not fair to deny all kids the right to read this book based off of the feelings of some people. Just don’t let your kids read it. Simple.
  - http://pulse.yahoo.com/_4TRX2TQ2Z3GKOR2J3F64CMAXCA margaret g
    
    Robbie, I agree. You said it very well. There are many shows on tv that I would not allow my kids to watch. Should they be taken off tv? There would be much outrage if they were.
    - Exalted Dirt
      
      Maybe they should be. When the Lord Jesus takes His throne in Jerusalem, I guess we’ll see.
- http://www.facebook.com/sarah.secreto.1 Sarah Secreto
  
  I am so tired of you bass aackward bigots. Should be required reading in schools so that the young children of haters can be educated on reality and how the majority of the world expects one to act and to respect the choices of their fellow humans.
  - Exalted Dirt
    
    There’s still salvation in Jesus’ name.
  - http://www.facebook.com/deirdre.pasko Deirdre Wagner
    
    Now who’s being a bigot?
Michelle

I wouldn’t condone this type of book either…I will talk to my own children about sexuality thank you very much. It is no ones place to force those issues on my children. Either way, it’s wrong. Call me a bigot for it–I couldn’t care less…
Debra

Another chip from the moral foundation of America. Our innocent children are an easy mark. I have no ill-will for gays, but I am against gay marriage and indoctrinating impressionable kids. Homosexuality, in my view, is not “normal”. If it were, our species would not survive. But now we are living in an age of moral relativism. Everything is ok, everyone and every culture is equal. There is no right and wrong. If it feels good, do it, always with the caveat “as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone”. NEGATIVE! As a naive young person, I have to admit, I thought that way until I realized ALL actions have consequences. What you do between the sheets is a personal matter, but leave the kids out of it!
- rational101
  
  Let’s try a little logic here: Where do gay people come from? Oh, from two straight parents! It’s not gays who produce other gays, it’s straight people. Ergo, the fact that gays cannot reproduce with their same-sex partners has NOTHING to do with perpetuation of the species. Sheesh!
  - Exalted Dirt
    
    Duh, that was part of the point.
    - rational101
      
      Duh…well let’s carry that to its logical extreme. If everyone were gay, we wouldn’t be here because no one would reproduce. So according to your definition, that’s not “normal”. But if 90% are hetero, they will continue to reproduce…plenty…and some of those whom them produce will be homosexual…probably maintaining that 9:1 ratio. It’s been that way for hundreds…well, probably more like thousands…of years. So that would seem to be “normal”, too.
      What is not normal or natural is for children to be haters or bigots. That’s something they have to be taught. Some of you seem to be doing your best.
      - Exalted Dirt
        
        Hatred and bigotry can be learned, but we are all born with evil natures inside. I know a fellow who hates all Mexicans because one stole his wife. Maybe that was a learned response; who knows, unless I asked him about it (yeah right).
Lisa Murphy

How about a book that teaches the children not to exploiters, rapists, thugs, and hit run drivers. Would that damage their fantastic upbringing too?
375h&h

Faggots All!
http://www.facebook.com/anthony.james.311 Anthony James

There are more than two sides to this story…
- Exalted Dirt
  
  Right: theirs, ours, and His.
Tony

I’ve looked all over in the BIBLE and no where does it say it’s ok to be gay
http://www.facebook.com/martha.hay.90 Martha Hay

Thank God that this petition made a change in one town. Maybe this books and other books like it (such as the ever popular Heather Has Two Mommies (it has been around for over 20 years and stills angers some members of the “religous wrong (opps- I ment “right”)”) can be used to let young children know that we are not all cut from the same cloth.
- Exalted Dirt
  
  That’s right. Some of us are blindly taking the hands of devils straight into the pits.
http://twitter.com/uzi9mmauto Bruce Kalashnikov

Gays are NOT Couples.. Anything a ‘Couple’ are opposites. next whoever write this book for kids should be shot! This is a very, very evil thing that has been done! Then being GAYBULLIED by the ‘gay’ community cause of decisions THEY made- taking or demanding what is NOT theirs.. All has no dam place in a Moral society. GOD by any name or any book is CLEAR Gayness is sick, and wrong and illegal for reasons! I pray that GOD takes instant judgement on sick people behind this and ones that support this GARBAGE.. IF WE MADE A BOOK ABOUT TEACHING KIDS OF HETEROSEXUAL SEX THERE WOULD BE OUTRAGE!! (LIKE THERE HAS BEEN OVER THE YEARS) You people are so dam DELUDED its ‘ok’ if the couple is GAY though!! This should REALLY upset people that this is openly going on!!
jesus coming soon

this is an abomination against god and cannot approve all sin is forgiveable accept 1 denying jesus death and resurrection for us took our sins and put it on the cross even sickness and more he was our lamb god sent so we can ask for forgiveness and turn from them so we can be saved if not eternity in hell iy is all in romans read it all holy bible king james the world is now under judgement who you believe what you believe how you live you are under the curse or you are under the blessing
Soonerlater

It is just a story for goodness sake. Since when does your child ever see animals get married in real life? I agree with the medical guy, let the children grow up first and let them understand what it is all about!!!
- Exalted Dirt
  
  “It is just a story for goodness sake.” …Right. It is a story about personified animals, made all cutesy to appeal to children in order to teach them that homosexuality is acceptable, all for the love of the doctrines of demons.
Marisha1622

Libraries are known to bring their books to schools, via the book mobile etc. If they don’t bring this crap to my kids school I could care less what books they have in a public library. Everyone has the right to read what they want, but once they overstep their boundaries concerning “my” children there will be hell to pay. Keep your unhealthy lifestyle away from my kids. If you want to teach your kids that it is ok to be gay that is your decision but do not push it on other peoples kids. Nobody has any business trying to push their beliefs on kids that are not theirs. Being gay is so unhealthy in so many ways that it is ridiculous to make it look like it is a normal thing to do. It’s like saying being a pedophile is normal or it’s ok to be a drug addict because it feels good. Bullcrap, all actions have consequences, That is one thing I would rather teach my children, rather than telling them that being gay is normal because it is not!
http://www.facebook.com/PAPPAPUMPED Mark Nye

Please Lord forgive those who have turned their backs on you! I am so ashamed for those who do not follow your path.
DEBBIE

GAY PEOPLE ARE NOT BORN THAT WAY. IT IS A CHOICE. SHOULD WE ACCEPT A MAN WHO MOLESTS CHILDREN BECAUSE HE SAYS HE CAN’T HELP IT THAT HE WAS BORN THAT WAY. THAT HE IS JUST NATURALLY ATTRACTED TO YOUNG GIRLS. OF COURSE NOT NOT EVEN IF HE HAS THAT TENDENCY THAT DOES NOT MEAN HE HAS TO ACT UPON IT. THAT IS WHERE CHOICE BECOMES INVOLVED. EVERYONE HAS TENDENCIES TO DO BAD THINGS THAT IS OUR SIN NATURE THAT HAS BEEN PASSED DOWN FROM ADAM AND EVE THAT DOES NOT MEAN WE SHOULD ACT ON IT. GROW A BACKBONE AND CHOSE THE RIGHT THING DON’T GIVE IN TO SIN AND YOUR LUSTS.
- Exalted Dirt
  
  That’s right! This is nothing other than obedience to demon influence.
Geraldine

God gave us marriage for one woman and one man. It is a sacrament and a holy union. We are to marry to procreate. That is what marriage is for. Marriage is not for men to marry men and women to marry women. Read the book of Revelation; as well as the book of Genesis and all the books in the bible in between; it will tell you what the right thing is to do. May god be with us all. I love and respect my gay friends and relatives. They love me back and they understand what I say. They love Jesus too. I am Catholic and proud to be so. There is a better explanation than what I am saying; but I cannot think of the words. God loves everyone very much and expects everyone to abstain from intercourse when they are single gay or straight. Gay people are very special to god and he asks just as much from them as he does the rest of us to follow him and do his will. Following god is not the easy road after all Jesus never said following him would be easy.
Kawena

I fail to see how having a story about 2 male animals getting married will help people to appreciate differences. Get real! That doesn’t happen in the animal kingdom. Moreover, marriage has always been between 2 people of the opposite sex throughout history. Just because gays, etc. want to have a stamp of approval on being able to get married doesn’t mean that they should have that right.
Chantal K

The more we hide from children the more ignorant they will grow. Ignorance creates prejudice and lack of acceptance thus creating hatred with no real basis. Ignorance leads to uncivilized societies as it forbids thought evolution which in turn leads to more chaeos instead of love.
sharon

Horray for gay rights. It’s about time. keep fighting and going forward.
http://www.facebook.com/deirdre.pasko Deirdre Wagner

This is absolutely disgusting! Not only should the books be banned from the Library, but they should be burned! Children are innocent, LEAVE THEM ALONE!!!!!
Jasmine

Banning this Book was Just plain Stubitity
There isn’t anything wrong with Marrying/ Loving Another Person your own Gender
This book should be spread all over.. Not banned

Igniting a Conversation About Uncle Bobby’s Wedding

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