Politician condemns Republican candidate for burning Quebec books

Secretary of State candidate for Missouri posted a video on X where she burned books she said are "grooming, indoctrinating, and sexualizing our children," including a book by a Quebec author. SOURCE: Valentina Gomez/Twitter

Quebec Culture Minister Mathieu Lacombe is denouncing the burning of a local author's book by a prospective U.S. Republican lawmaker.

A video posted Tuesday by a Republican candidate for secretary of state in Missouri shows her taking a flame-thrower to library books that she claims are being used to "groom" children.

Among the books burned by candidate Valentina Gomez was "Naked: Not Your Average Sex Encyclopedia," the English translation of the book "Tout nu" by Quebec author Myriam Daguzan Bernier and illustrator Cecile Gariepy.

The book is described as an inclusive guide to sexuality aimed at teens.

Lacombe told reporters in Quebec City today that book burning has no place in 2024.

Later, a motion passed unanimously at Quebec's national assembly denouncing censorship and reiterating support for freedom of opinion, freedom of expression, and the free circulation of ideas.

-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Feb. 8, 2024.