Grand Junction – Words displayed on a back wall of the Mesa County Public Library have turned this bastion of free speech into a battleground over freedom of expression.
Library visitors have complained, The Comedy Channel has taken notice, and civil-liberties groups are weighing in on a Christian poster display proclaiming that those who are gay, addicted to drugs or alcohol, divorced, having abortions or having sex outside of marriage “have lost God’s protection.”
The display uses paper bowls to depict marriage, and pink and blue paint to depict males and females. Pink and blue paint mixed in the bowl results in a “beautiful purple,” according to the posters. If the pink and blue mixes outside the bowl, “a big mess” results. When pink mixes with pink or blue with blue, “nothing special happens.”
Carol Anderson, 64, of Grand Junction said she created the posters after being offended last summer by a photo display on the same wall called, “Love Makes a Family.” It advocated for nontraditional families, including gay and mixed race.
Both displays are part of a long-standing library program allowing groups to use the wall for a month at a time to publicize viewpoints, causes or artwork.
The American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to the library last week warning a disclaimer needs to be added to any religious displays. The library posted that disclaimer Thursday.
The Alliance Defense Fund, an organization that often acts as a Christian counterpoint to the ACLU, is sending a letter to the library warning it will monitor the situation to ensure Anderson’s constitutional rights are protected.
Many patrons of the library Friday took little or no note of the display.
“I don’t know why people are upset by words. They should be upset by behavior,” Jack Warren said as he read newspapers under the posters.
But the homemade posters have gotten the attention of “The Colbert Report,” a satirical talk show on Comedy Central.
A spokeswoman for the show said principals in the library flap have been contacted, but no decision has been made about turning the controversy into a TV segment.
Anderson said she is praying about whether to go on the show.
“I would like to have more exposure. But I’m not sure Comedy Central will be a good place to have the Lord’s word heard.”
Anderson said the display is not meant to be “anti-homosexual.” She said she thinks some object because they see themselves in the posters.
“Leviticus has judged them,” she said, referring to a biblical passage she cites in her posters.
Mark Silverstein, an attorney with the Denver chapter of the ACLU, commended the library for offering the space as a public forum.
“That kind of forum has to be open to all views, including religious,” he said. “The library just needs to make it clear that they don’t endorse religious positions.”
Staff writer Nancy Lofholm can be reached at 970-256-1957 or nlofholm@denverpost.com.
