Missouri Man Who Called For Ban Of Book By Black Queer Author Is Facing Child Molestation Charges
A Missouri parent who was demanding a ban of LGBTQ-themed books, including George Johnson’s All Boys Aren’t Blue, because he claimed they were “inappropriate” for children, is now facing child molestation charges.
According to KMBC-TV, Ryan Utterback, 29, from Gladstone, Mo., is facing a felony charge of second-degree child molestation, a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree domestic assault, and a misdemeanor charge of furnishing pornographic material or attempting to furnish to a minor in a separate case.
Johnson reacted to the news on Twitter by writing, “Our books TEACH & give resources to kids about predators like him.”
When All Boys Aren’t Blue was threatened to be banned, Johnson exclusively told BET.com, “I’m angered at the fact that we are in a fight for the ability to simply tell the truth. I’m pissed that our experiences are being deemed unscholarly because their critique of whiteness and oppression rejects everything we had ever been taught about American History.”
Ryan Utterback is due in court on March 10.
