Pornographic and sexually violent graphic novels and erotica have been found in school libraries across our nation along with other obscene materials meant to sexualize and indoctrinate our children. As parents have attempted to get the books removed, they have found themselves in a battle with school boards, principals, superintendents and school librarians. It has become a litmus test of the moral depravity of those in leadership over our children.

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One of our founding Fathers, John Adams, gave insight into the dilemma we face not only in the public school system, but across our nation in this battle between righteousness and perversity.  “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Who would have imagined that we would have to fight to establish that pornography and sexual violence promoted to children (or anyone else for that matter) is wrong?

Some of the titles most commonly showing up include: “Lawn Boy,” “Flamer,” and “Gender Queer.” The latter contains cartoon-style pornographic images, including minors engaging in sex acts. The book has been recommended by the School Library Journal and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) meant to guide selections by librarians and teachers who work with children and teens. It should also be noted that YALSA gave “Gender Queer” an “Alex Award.” This is an award given to only ten books a year which they designate to have “special appeal” for young adults ages 12 through 18. (For a more extensive list of inappropriate books click here.)

Alerted to the issue, Oklahoma lawmaker, Rep. Sherrie Conley (R-OK) introduced three bills in the Republican majority House this past session. However, the legislation was blocked at almost every level. Ironically, afterwards, the Oklahoma Library Association awarded two of the Oklahoma legislators who blocked the bills with a “Library Champion Award.”

Conley’s efforts appeared thwarted until a social media post from “Libs of Tik Tok” went viral exposing the presence of the books. Suddenly, educators and legislators, who had already known of the presence of the material but refused to act, began “demanding” the removal of the books.

It is an election year after all.

The question we need to ask is why did it take a viral social media post to finally get educators and leadership to respond?

When some Oklahoma parents challenged their school boards regarding the presence of books found in their libraries, the Oklahoma State School Board Association (OSSBA) reinforced their presence by claiming that the pornographic and sexually explicit material was protected by the First Amendment.

However, it is not.

According to the Miller Test, a 1973 Supreme Court decision, Miller vs. California, the sale and distribution of obscene material is not protected by the First Amendment. The Miller Test has been the standard used for defining obscenity in our court system for several years. What school leaders are revealing is their own depravity that they do not believe that pornography, pedophilia and sexual violence are obscene.

“Part of the issue is there is no set criteria when it comes to books. Although movies, songs and other media have guidelines in place for what constitutes ‘obscenity’ no such guidelines exist for books,” explained Rep. Conley. At present whoever is put in charge of reviewing library selections is able to make the decision.”

To solve that issue she introduced HB4013 which would create clearer guidelines to define obscenity laws. She spoke to numerous groups including the Oklahoma School Library Association, the State Department of Education, the Oklahoma School Board Association, and even the governor of Oklahoma—none were willing to take action regarding this important legislation. Even the Republican-led House leadership did nothing to help.

She then called the F.B.I. to report the crime of obscene materials in school libraries but was told, “You need to talk to the State Department of Education.” The FBI clerk then hung up on her. Undaunted, Conley called back and got a different F.B.I. operator. She started the process again, but that operator responded in the same manner.

No one seemed to care until the Lib of TikTok post brought it into the public eye.

The issue of pornographic and violent sexually explicit books in school libraries was first discovered in Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia last year where the offensive content was hidden from parents.  A “LCPS parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said parents were not told of the curriculum change to include books initially left off the class curriculum” according to an article in The New American.

“When the original syllabus was given to the parents of the honors English class in August, these books were not part of the list,” the parent said. “They added them without informing the principal or the parents. From what I understand, and I was not in the room, the children were told they did not have to share the changes with their family.”

Since that alert, similar books have been discovered in additional libraries in Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Virginia, Rhode Island and Oklahoma.

It will take courageous men and women who want to rid our schools of this filth to win this battle. Representative Conley plans to reintroduce each of these bills next year. Pray for her and that other lawmakers will join with her to see our children protected.

Are these books in your child’s school library?

Here’s how to find out and what to do if they are:

1. Click here to download the list of books that many parents have found objectionable.
2. Check to see if any of these books are in your school’s library. Go to destinydiscover.com  and insert your city/state and school to begin your search.
3. Once you find obscene books in the library, ask for a “Request for Removal” form from the principal or school office. Make sure to read the book so you are ready to argue as to why it needs to be removed. They will try to take advantage of the fact you haven’t read the book. Be prepared!
4. Fill out the form and then contact your state superintendent, the principal of the school where the books were found and each member of the school board. (Note: You cannot send one email to the school board as a group. They are unable to respond to group texts or emails. Send the form and information via a letter, email or phone each one individually.) List the books by name along with the author and demand they be removed immediately.
5. At this point the request for removal will likely head to a committee that will decide to keep the book or remove it from the shelves. Don’t be surprised when the committee decides to keep the book on the shelf.
6. If they reject your request, you can contest their decision. It will then head to a special meeting with the school board for your district. Unless you have a conservative board, don’t be surprised if they vote to keep the book on the shelf.
7. Gather like-minded parents and together regularly attend school board meetings and address the issue publicly.
8. Contact your legislators in both the state and federal government and send them the links to Rep Conely’s bills encouraging them to introduce similar legislation using similar verbiage so that school libraries across the nation will be protected under similar language. HB4013, HB 4014.
9. Join a group such as Mom’s for Liberty for additional resources on how to fight this battle and join with other parents.
10. Don’t be discouraged. By joining this fight, you will find other like-minded parents. That group will grow and strengthen. Don’t give up. Try again. Keep submitting books. Every time they override your request and keep the book on the shelves, let your community know which district and what the board decided. Put it out on social media—all of it! The book, the excerpts, the decision. Exposure will become your best friend. Embrace that friend.

Father, we pray for our legislators that they will have the courage to write and sign onto these bills to remove perversion, sexualization and indoctrination of our children. We pray that they will not be afraid of losing campaign donations, but that You would be their supply. If any donations are lost, we pray you would bring double in return for their efforts for righteousness.

We pray that guidelines will be written and approved in each state creating a clear ruling so that these books must be removed and violators prosecuted.

We pray for courageous parents and grandparents who will research and speak out against this filth being made available to our children under the pretext of “education.”

We pray for those currently in leadership, especially in areas of public school education. Where perversity has taken over the minds of those in leadership, we pray that You turn hearts of stone to hearts of flesh and that the fear of God and moral behavior will guide their decisions.

We pray that there will be a cleaning out of all school libraries in our nation from these materials meant to indoctrinate and sexualize our children and for their minds and hearts to be protected from this immoral material.

Have you seen any of these books in your child’s or grandchild’s library? Share this article to raise awareness of this critical issue.

Karen Hardin is a literary agent and writer. She is the author of “Infected: How to Stop the Global Spread of Rage, Deception and Insanity” and “God’s Justice after Injustice.” Her work has been published in USA Today, Western Journal, World Net Daily, Intercessors for America, Charisma, CBN.com and more. To receive her free weekly scriptural prayer targets for our nation click here. Or you can sign up for her governmental and prophetic insights at karenhardin.com. Photo Credit: Redd on Unsplash.