The Biden administration has pushed back on efforts by Florida and other red states to block quasi-pornographic books from being used in schools. Resolving a recent case in Georgia on Monday, the U.S. Department of Education argued that yanking such materials from library shelves creates a “hostile environment” for LGTBQ and minority students.
At issue in Georgia was a complaint by an unidentified person who informed the federal DOE that the Forsyth County School District had pulled books about the LGBTQ “community” in January 2022.
On Friday, the agency Office of Civil Rights (OCR) notified Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden that it was not happy, the Daily Signal reported.
In the news: GOP Leader In Florida Pushes Back On NAACP “Travel Advisory”
In a letter, the department accused the county of trying to eliminate “diverse authors and characters, including people who are LGBTQI+ and authors who are not white.”
“Indeed,” the DOE’s letter to Bearden continued, “one student commented at a district school board meeting about the school environment becoming more harsh in the aftermath of the book removals and his fear about going to school, and evidence OCR reviewed to date reflects other students expressing similar views.”
“District witnesses reported to OCR that the district has not taken steps to address with students the impact of the book removals. In light of these communications and actions, OCR is concerned a hostile environment may have arisen that the district needed to ameliorate.”
Daily Signal noted that Forsyth County’s school district had removed eight books after several parents complained about the content being too pornographic for children.
In one instance, a mother was initially banned from school board meetings after she tried to read aloud from one of the books, “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.” The book, by Jonathan Safran Foer, describes how to give oral sex.
In the news: Dem North Carolina Gov Declares ‘State Of Emergency’ Over Parental Rights, School Choice
Another book removed from libraries was “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison. One review noted the book depicts sexual content that “includes but is not limited to incest, pedophilia, a graphic description of one married woman’s distaste for intercourse with her husband, an odd description of the same woman’s affinity for masturbating with a pet in her lap.”
Ironically, the Biden administration admitted it knew why the books were removed.
“OCR also recognizes the District limited its book screening process to sexually explicit material,” the agency’s letter said.
But content did not matter, nor did parents’ objections.
What mattered more was the perception created by parents’ criticism.
“Communications at board meetings conveyed the impression that books were being screened to exclude diverse authors and characters, including people who are LGBTQI+ and authors who are not white, leading to increased fears and possibly harassment.”
Android Users, Click To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Signup for our free newsletter.
We can’t do this without your help; visit our GiveSendGo page and donate any dollar amount; every penny helps.