Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Education
 
Board
State Board of Education
 
Guidance Document Change: The guidance document "Model Policies Concerning Instructional Materials with Sexually Explicit Content" was developed in conjunction with stakeholders in order to comply with SB656 (2022).
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8/2/22  10:37 pm
Commenter: Anonymous

I strongly oppose this policy
 

Depicting or describing LGBTQ+ people does not automatically make something "sexually explicit." The existence of these folks and giving them equal human rights does not take away from anyone else's freedom in any way. This policy would end up taking away access to literature that is helpful to and supportive of LGBTQ+ youth and it also takes the opportunity away from all students to see and read about anything other than cisgender and heterosexual relationships. Nobody is "turned gay" (or trans, or anything else) by reading books with gay characters. Leave it up to school librarians and teachers to choose grade level-appropriate literature and if a parent has a concern about a book for their specific kid, take away access for that specific kid. Don't pass this ridiculous policy.

CommentID: 124682