TAMPA, Fla. – In a narrow vote, the Hillsborough County School Board opted to remove a book promoting gay sex from middle school libraries in the county.
The board voted 4-3 to ditch author James Dawson’s “This Book is Gay” from Pierce Middle School in Tampa, and agreed to prohibit other schools from adding it to their collections.
More than 60 people showed up to the meeting Tuesday to discuss both sides of the issue.
Critics argued it wasn’t age-appropriate for middle school students.
“This book has to go. I’m a grandmother, and I don’t want my grandchild reading this book,” one woman said.
Dawson’s book includes a chapter called “Ins and Outs of Gay Sex.”
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The chapter depicts a naked man who has facial and pubic hair serving as the centerpiece of a diagram that shows directional arrows to his penis, testicles, bottom, and nipples.
The text offers instructions on “blowies” and “handies,” and describes how the gay sex hookup app Grindr and those like it work.
“How is this appropriate for a sixth grader?” asked Stephanie Ascot, the parent who filed the challenge. “I am saddened this has become a political issue. It has become political challenge. That is not the intent of the challenge. It has to do with protecting our kids.”
In the book, Dawson wrote: “It is a fact that although grown-up adult types are sometimes looking for a serious relationship, sometimes they are just looking for a spot of sexyfuntime.”
“Remember, this is fine as long as you’re honest and always use a condom.”
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It took parents seven months to convince the School Board to remove “This Book is Gay,” which survived separate removal votes by review committees at the school and county levels.
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