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IN MAY, 2022, Utah wrote into law House Bill 374, which sought to remove “sensitive materials” from from schools and school libraries,
Soon after, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) reported that Utah had been “hit hard” with a flurry of book challenges.
It is no surprise that graphic novels like Fun Home, Flamer, and Gender Queer are among those being challenged and removed.
CL’s Jordan Smith pointed out that Michael Curtis, General Counsel for the Utah legislature, warned that litigation was likely.
It can come from both sides now, as some folks will want books returned, and others will want books removed. Lawsuits notwithstanding, the bill has already impacted resources in the school districts. One district said the recent challenges have already cost 500 hours of labor and $20,000 of funds.
So it comes as no surprise that, in March 2023, the law reportedly sparked a demand to remove the Bible from the Davis School District, citing passages that included sex and violence.
Newsweek reported that the complainant appeared to object to the Bible on the grounds that it contained material that could be defined as either “pornographic” or “harmful to minors.”
An extract of the challenge, published by the Salt Lake Tribune ($), stated that the book contained:
Incest, onanism, bestiality, prostitution, genital mutilation, fellatio, dildos, rape, and even infanticide.
As a consequence it’s now being widely reported that the board then removed the “holy” book. Fox 13, for example, said on June 1:
The King James Version of the Bible has been removed from many Davis School District schools after a committee found it contained ‘vulgarity and violence.’
Then, in a follow-up report on June 2, the outlet revealed that an attempt has been made to ban the Book of Mormon from schools.
The district confirmed a request was made by an individual who wants the book removed due to violent content. A committee will now review the religious text to decide whether it will also be taken out of school libraries in the district.
The Newsweek fact-check report pointed out that school book bans have often been associated with groups that describe themselves as Christian, with texts like Harry Potter and the Wizard of Oz targeted for their “ungodly” themes.
It also says that reports of a complete ban of the Bible were inaccurate, and quoted Christopher Williams, Davis School District’s Director of Communication, as saying:
The [review] committee … decided to retain the book in school library circulation only at the high school level based on age appropriateness due to vulgarity or violence.
The decision, said Newsweek, has since been appealed An appeals committee is set to rule on whether the books will be returned to all libraries.
So, although the Bible was challenged in protest against other book-banning actions, and the District did not ban the text across all its schools, it’s correct that it was removed for its content in junior classes.
Jordan Smith concluded his CLBDF report with these words:
It is more important than ever that we fight these book challenges and make our voices heard for free speech. This bill in Utah is demonstrating a problematic curtailing of First Amendment rights by declaring certain literature of “no serious value for minors” and straining the education system in terms of time and money.
We will continue reporting on the situation in Utah and providing support to keep graphic novels and books on the shelves.
Hat tip: BarrieJohn
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