A man in Beachwood, Ohio, has taken the war on knowledge to a deranged new level: checking out over 100 library books about LGBTQ+ lives, Jewish culture, and Black history—then posting a smug video of himself burning them. Yes, in 2025. Yes, in public.
According to Beachwood police, the arsonist-style borrower collected the books from the local Cuyahoga County Public Library branch and incinerated them for the internet to see. The estimated value of the lost books tops $1,500, but the symbolic weight of this hate-fueled bonfire? Priceless.
Library officials swiftly revoked the man’s borrowing privileges and banned him from all county library locations. While the library refrained from further comment due to an ongoing investigation, it made clear it was replacing every lost book. “This customer has been restricted… and their borrowing privileges have been revoked,” the library confirmed, as if he’d ever borrow anything besides bad ideas.
From Flames to Faith and Flags
But the response? Straight from the heart. In defiance of the hate-fueled spectacle, community members—and not just LGBTQ+ folks—came together outside Fairmount Presbyterian Church in a rainbow wave of resistance. Members of the Interfaith Group Against Hate brought books, banners, and unshakable unity, turning what was meant to divide into a moment of radical love.
Senior Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk, serving realness and resistance, declared, “Whoever perpetuated the idea that you can burn us out of Cleveland… picked the wrong community.” He urged people to deepen their understanding, not retreat into fear. “Let’s use this moment… to learn each other’s faith, culture, values.” Translation: We’re not going anywhere, and our books will multiply like glitter at Pride.
Ohio Senator Kent Smith didn’t mince words either. Calling the act “fundamentally un-American,” he said libraries are “safe harbors of free thought,” and burning books is a violation of the very freedoms this country claims to defend. “This action will not be, should not be, and cannot be tolerated,” Smith said. Period.
A Warning and a Rallying Cry
The police are currently investigating the case as a potential hate crime, and say the man will be billed for the books when they’re officially overdue. Whether he’ll be charged for the hate he lit on fire remains to be seen.
For the LGBTQ+ community, this was more than a petty act of destruction. It was a signal flare. Book bans, drag show crackdowns, anti-trans laws—these aren’t isolated incidents. They’re part of a movement to erase queer existence, especially from the eyes of young people seeking their own stories.
But let this serve as a warning: You can burn a book, but you can’t burn a movement. The LGBTQ+ community has endured centuries of erasure, censorship, and hate—and every time, it comes back louder, prouder, and smarter.
So to the bigot with a lighter: thanks for inspiring a new shelf of queer lit donations. You’re not the firestarter you think you are. You’re the reason we fight harder.