The State Board of Education meeting room is pictured inside the William B Travis Building in downtown Austin, Texas, Thursday, December 9, 2021. Texans opposed to what they called “pornographic” books read graphic excerpts depicting sexual activity to the State Board of Education on Friday to illustrate what they called the “pervasively vulgar” content of some books that can be found in school libraries.
Leimbach said several school districts are hiding behind a state law that protects books that have educational value. Perez-Diaz pointed out there were children at the board meeting who were standing in support of charter schools, which the board discussed after the public testimony session concluded. Kinsey responded by reiterating the board’s commitment to upholding First Amendment rights.Michele Allen, a retired teacher of 33 years who lives in Midland, also read aloud scenes from Ellen Hopkins’ book “Tricks” that she deemed “pervasively pornographic.
“We have to go back to the ABCs and not the LGBTPQ, whatever you want to call it,” he said. “We got to fight for our children exactly by … building a future. We’re building perverts here.”Brady Gray, president of the Texas Family Project, an organization that says it is working to preserve conservative Christian values, implored the board to push for book bans to be a legislative priority going into the 89th session.