Nampa library, youth group rebuke senator's claims of perpetuating grooming, pedophilia

[Artaxerxes II]

https://www.idahopress.com/news/local/n ... dfd19.html

NAMPA — Despite controversy that has spread throughout the community, Nampa’s LGBTQ+ club for youths, CLUTCH, met Thursday and proceeded with its weekly meeting as usual.
“We did our normal routine. We had a meal, we had some great chili, and we did an awesome yarn craft, and we just hung out,” Director of Operations Mindy OldenKamp said.

Its members are mostly in their teens with a handful of young adults.
CLUTCH and its mission have been brought into question this past week by Nampa Sen. Brian Lenney.
Lenney is completing his first term as a Republican senator and recently won reelection for his next term. Originally from California, Lenney has labeled himself as a political refugee and moved to Idaho in 2010, according to his website.
After spotting a CLUTCH flyer on Nampa Public Library’s bulletin board, in emails with the library director, Lenney questioned how a flyer promoting CLUTCH was appropriate for a library bulletin board.

“So your policy means adults can invite kids to talk about sex?” Lenney wrote in a Nov. 18 email.
Lenney declined an interview with the Idaho Press over the phone and did not respond to emailed questions.
The flyer includes the weekly meeting time and location and states its membership age range of 14 to 20 years old. There are no mentions of sex.

“No pressure, no judgments, just you,” the flyer reads. “Creating an affirming space in our community for LGBTQ+ youth.”
Lenney has gone on to claim that the flyer promotes a group that is complicit in grooming and pedophilia. His social media posts regarding the flyer have sparked outrage. One of Lenney’s posts received 14,000 views as of Friday and multiple posts have dozens of replies supporting Lenney’s position.
“So their policy allows inappropriate sexual perversion towards children and no one there has the guts to stand up and rip the flyer down to protect children,” one X user wrote. “Sounds standard for those freaks. And this is why I do not take my kids to public libraries.”

AT THE LIBRARY

Since Lenney’s initial Nov. 20 post, the library has received approximately 30 to 40 complaints via phone and email, according to library Director Claire Connley. In an interview with the Idaho Press, Connley said that the flyer does not go against library policy.
“It’s merely inviting people to a meeting,” Connley said. “So no, I do not find that inappropriate.”

While her staff will take a look at the bulletin boards a few times a week, flyers are not individually vetted by library staff or the board before they are posted.
At any time, Connley said the library will have dozens of flyers on display. Before this, Connley can not recall ever receiving complaints about materials on the bulletin boards.

“It’s been quite negative,” Connley said. “It’s been accusing the library staff of all kinds of things.”
During this difficult week for her staff, Connley noted that complaints have come in from out of state as well.
“When people have agendas, a lot of the time it’s their own, personal agenda,” Connley said. “We just try to do what we believe is right, and we’re a great resource for the community.”

CITY COUNCILMEMBER RESPONDS

Following communication with Connley, Lenney forwarded the email thread to multiple city councilors and leadership.
“I know you’ve probably all seen this,” Lenney wrote in the Nov. 20 email. “But, wow... this is the response from our library when child groomers are on the prowl?”

Councilmember Natalie Jangula, a self-proclaimed staunch conservative, disagreed with Lenney’s representation of CLUTCH, questioning where his accusations came from.
“Where does it say or imply that adults will be talking to kids about sex?” Jangula wrote in response.

Jangula is in her second term as a city councilmember and has stated that she does not align herself with LGBTQ+ values. Despite this, Jangula said that Lenney’s accusations were unfounded and that he was impeding on the group’s rights with “made–up information.”
“As a constitutional conservative, I will never stand in the way of anyone’s rights that I believe God has given them,” Jangula wrote. “The right to peacefully and lawfully assemble, even if I don’t agree with it, is something I will defend.”

Rather than being concerned about grooming allegations, Jangula said she has recognized a pattern of closed-mindedness.
“I don’t think it’s relevant to the discussion because it’s made-up information,” Jangula said in an interview with the Idaho Press. “I don’t know where this is coming from. I think that we have had a shift in our politics here in Idaho, and it’s becoming more dangerous.”

Jangula has previously been criticized online for attending the controversial Canyon County Pride Festival, which was held in June.
In particular, Jangula said it was harmful for Lenney as a public leader to perpetuate a false narrative against a group he doesn’t agree with.
“Brian Lenney’s remarks are a place of authority,” Jangula said. “He is coming from a place of saying, ‘if you don’t align with me, you don’t have rights,’ and I think that that’s very dangerous for a state senator to have that viewpoint.”

If a parent doesn’t agree with the group’s mission, Jangula said, don’t send them there.
“The last couple of days have just shone a whole new light on a lot of things going on in Idaho,” Jangula said. “And I’m just — I’m really saddened by it, honestly.”

CLUTCH RECEIVES SUPPORT

Contrary to all the attention the group has recently received, OldenKamp said that the library has taken more flak for it than CLUTCH has.
“I can honestly say we have had very little negative contact, and we’ve been receiving many, many, many positive messages of support,” OldenKamp said. “We’ve received some donations, and so our community really just showed up for us, which we are so grateful for.”

In total, as of Friday morning, CLUTCH has received four negative communications and many more positive ones.
As for assumptions of pedophilia and grooming taking place, OldenKamp said that all of CLUTCH’s adult volunteers are vetted with a background check. She also said that CLUTCH’s parents have been very supportive and positive, often dropping their kids off at meetings.
“We know exactly what adults are present,” she said.

Rather than a political movement or discussion group, CLUTCH’s weekly meetings are geared toward having a good time within a supportive group. Meetings vary between learning a new skill, crafting and playing games.
“What a weird thought process,” OldenKamp said about assumptions of pedophilia. “It’s just unfortunate because no one’s asking us. None of the folks who are making the negative comments have reached out to actually find out what we do or who we are.”

Those interested in learning more about CLUTCH can visit the website at clutchnampa.org. Questions can be submitted through the group’s contact form.