Republicans in Texas want to stop sexualization of children

WARNING: This article contains sexually explicit content quoted from a book.

Last month, Texas Republican Party delegates met for their 2024 convention to develop the party platform and vote on key legislative priorities.

Delegates selected eight legislative priorities, one of which was ending the sexualization of children in Texas.

Delegates called for an end to the sexualization of minors, as it leads to “abuse, exploitation and human trafficking.” They stated that they would achieve this goal by:

• “Prohibit taxpayer funding of institutions that permit or promote sexually inappropriate content for minors and legally prohibit the teaching of sexual orientation and gender ideology in schools and libraries.”
• Repealing the affirmative defense in the Texas Penal Code (43.24, 43.25) and redefining “noxious materials” to close loopholes provided by the modified Miller test.
• Establish an independent inspector general for education to investigate fraud, waste, abuse, and criminal behavior in schools and report findings to law enforcement.
• “School inspectors must report sex crimes in schools to outside law enforcement agencies, and schools and their employees are stripped of immunity from civil liability.”

Sexually explicit and inappropriate books have been discovered in several public school districts across the state, including Fort Worth ISD, Plano ISD, Dallas ISD and Princeton ISD.

As previously reported by The Dallas ExpressPrinceton ISD removed 148 books from the library for review earlier this year because they allegedly contained “inappropriate” content.

The move came after the nonprofit organization Citizens Defending Freedom (CDF) conducted an audit of the district’s library.

“One such book, ‘Melissa’ by Alex Gino, introduces the concept of gender reassignment surgery in children, including the use of androgen blockers and gender reassignment surgery, but ignores the risks associated with such procedures. Another book, ‘Welcome to St. Hell’ by Lewis Hancox, describes the author’s experience with gender reassignment surgery using testosterone injections, bindings and packers,” CDF claimed.

Plano ISD removed 64 books from school last year because of possible sexual content. One of those books was “Identical” by Ellen Hopkins, which tells the story of two 16-year-old identical twin daughters, one of whom is sexually abused.

“Confused by his tears and the sticky stuff icing her hands, Kaeleigh still pleaded, ‘Don’t cry, Daddy. What’s wrong? Didn’t I love you well enough?'” one passage reads.

Despite strong public backlash last year, Fort Worth ISD has returned potentially inappropriate books to library shelves this year.

Some activists are opposing efforts by Texas lawmakers to ensure that school libraries only stock age-appropriate materials.

The Texas branch of the Children’s Defense Fund claims that HB 900 – a state law that bans certain reading materials and regulates how books can be challenged in schools – “threatens students’ freedom to read, increases government oversight of school libraries, and ultimately disadvantages parents and students in making decisions for their own families.”