Bill targeting sexually explicit books in school libraries on its way to Gov. Abbott

Abilene, Tx — House Bill 900 aims to keep sexually explicit materials out of school libraries. The bill has been approved by both the House and the Senate. It is currently on its way to Governor Greg Abbott.

If signed into law the bill will require book vendors to assign ratings to books based on the presence of depictions or references to sex. Sexually explicit books will be removed from school libraries. Any student wanting to check out a book deemed sexually relevant would have to get permission from their parents.

Imelda Mejia the Director of Communications at the Texas Freedom Network believes the bill could limit students access to education.

“Books about sexual orientation and gender identity for example help them with expression, respect for others, and it helps our students learn more about their friends and others who might be different from them,” Mejia said. “To limit what our students have access to will severely harm them and put them in a bubble.”

Reverend Scottie Shelton believes removing books considered to be sexual from school libraries will send the wrong message to students who may be trying to learn more about themselves.

“Any time we start going down the road of banning books it’s a slippery slope,” Shelton said. “Anytime you start any kind of book banning of a marginalized community in particular, especially when you start calling a particular sexual orientation sexualizing or dangerous you actually negate an entire group of people.”