“The issue is, as a parent, do I have the right to protect my child from material that I think is inappropriate? When you put it in front of them at school, you’ve taken away my right as a parent to protect my child from what I think is not appropriate for them.” “There’s books available anywhere,” she said. Julie Gebherds is one of the parents who filed a complaint. This is the first time a particular book has made it to the school board for review, a spokesperson for the district confirms. Concepts are presented in a manner that also demonstrated cautions and dangers about teen navigating adult resources, such as dating apps,” the report reads in part.Īn appeal was filed, and now it is up to the Hillsborough County School Board to determine if the text should stay or go. The concepts are presented in a manner that is appropriate for the potential young adult reader. “The committee identified that it is an informative text, written by an author who is a member of the LGBTQ+ teen community, that can be a resource for an underrepresented community. Others say it’s up to parents to decide what their kids read not what all kids read at Pierce Middle. Some of the speakers opposing the book said they aren’t trying to ban books but that they don’t want it in the library. Those in favor of keeping the book though said cited excerpts do not explain the book in its entirety and that it’s important for students to have the ability to read it.

Only a handful have so far been in support of “This Book is Gay” during the public comment period. The board says over 60 people are here for the public comment period.

The school committee then reviewed the book and in a unanimous vote, the educators agreed the book was appropriate and should stay.Ī packed house at the Hillsborough County Public School Board. “Specifically, Chapter 9 which references apps that are geared towards hookups (Grindr).”

not in a classroom that teaches sexual education),” one complaint read. “This book is not age appropriate, especially in a non-controlled setting (i.e. Two parents filed formal complaints with the Hillsborough County School District last fall and the book was brought before Pierce Middle School’s educational media materials committee.īoth complaints state concerns with the book's reference to an LGBTQ dating app. Several people who spoke out against the book Tuesday gave similar examples. Pierce Middle School’s educational media materials committee said book was OK.Initial complaints were filed last fall followed by appeals.

Parents' complaints were about the book's reference to Grindr, a dating app.'This Book is Gay' is the first text to go before the Hillsborough County School Board for approval.

This book is gay book