Congress Is Trying to Ban Books

Time again to call your representatives. In case you haven’t heard, back in February the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act (H.R.7661) was introduced in the House of Representatives. It is a book ban. It prevents federal money given to schools to be used for programs, activites, or books that include sexually oriented material; which includes, by the way, lewd or lascivious dancing. I guess Mary Miller thought John Lithgow was playing the good guy in Footloose.

But don’t worry, there are exceptions for classic works of literature. What qualifies as a classic work of literature? Well, anything recommended by this company that provides online educational material for Christian home-schooling.¹ Clearly the authors of this bill have thought long and hard about literature and its value in education.

Oh, and the real kick in the teeth? The term sexually oriented material means material that involves gender dysphoria or transgenderism. That’s right, folks, just being trans is sexually oriented and therefore any materials containing anything relating to being trans is at risk of losing funding under this bill. Because of course it is.

But you don’t have to take my word for it. The American Library Association released a statement.

So it’s time to give your reps a call. I’ve been given to understand that this bill enjoys bipartisan support, so probably don’t assume that if you live in a “blue” district or state that you don’t need to nag your reps about this nonsense.