Fort Worth parents speak out against sexually explicit books in school libraries
As the new school year for the Fort Worth Independent School District approaches next month, parents and community members are calling attention to content in school library books that they consider inappropriate for children.
Calls for the removal of these books dominated public comment on Tuesday night during the district’s Board of Education meeting with about 20 people speaking out.
Some attendees held up signs that read, “Ban sexual books” and “Keep your kinks out of our kids’ schools!”
Tensions flared twice when excerpts were read aloud that included profanity and sexual descriptions. When Board President Dr. Camille Rodriguez told those gathered to refrain from quoting the material, attendees shouted and complained about it being available in schools.
“Disruptions in the meeting are not tolerated,” Rodriguez said. “If there’s another disruption from the audience, you may be removed from the meeting.”
District parent Italia De La Cruz, who has three children, read from the book “Push” by Sapphire when she was interrupted by Rodriguez. The book, made into the 2009 film “Precious,” includes descriptions of rape.
“We urge you to take action and to take the necessary steps to remove any books that will hinder our students’ education. We will be watching,” De La Cruz said.
The complaints come after district officials announced earlier this month that three books were removed from elementary and middle school libraries: “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe; “Flamer” by Mike Curato; and “Wait What? A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up” by Heather Corinna.
The books, which touch on exploring sexuality and gender identity, are now in the district’s professional learning catalog, which is only accessible to district staff. They were deemed inappropriate after being reviewed by officials.
“We are currently reviewing our guidelines and policies (of library books) in preparation for the upcoming school year,” John Cope, the district’s director of communications, told the Star-Telegram in a statement.
“Gender Queer” was the book most commonly banned from school libraries during the 2021-22 school year, according to a report released in September by the free-speech-advocacy organization PEN America. Additionally, the report states that Texas was the nationwide leader in school library book bans during the same school year with 801 titles banned across 22 school districts.
Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill last month that aims to keep sexually explicit books out of school libraries, which has drawn concerns from legal experts and librarians over its broad language that could eliminate books that are considered appropriate.
This story was originally published July 25, 2023 at 9:45 PM.
