Internet filtering and the adolescent gay/lesbian patron

With the recent passage of the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), and its constitutionality subsequently affirmed by the Supreme Court, libraries are faced with challenges presented by Internet filtering, and the obstacles to access it poses for disadvantaged patron groups. This paper discusses the ramifications of Internet filtering at public libraries on sexual minority youth and how this may translate into a negative health impact on this community and a restriction on intellectual freedom. Topics discussed include filtering technology, the risks it presents to equitable access, the disproportionate effect on the gay/lesbian community, and how filtering impairs the creation of online communities for this minority group.