Following backlash, several Fort Worth Independent School District libraries are removing pornographic materials from their shelves and marking them as “checked out.”
Earlier this week, Libs of TikTok called out FWISD’s Daggett Middle School for allowing children to check out the book “Gender Queer.”
According to a social media post by Libs of TikTok, this book “discusses chest binders, masturbation, sex toys, gay sex, and blowjobs.”
Then it was revealed that several schools in the district—including three elementary schools and a middle school—have been allowing children to check out a book titled “Wait, What? : A Comic Book Guide to Relationships, Bodies, and Growing Up.”
This book uses graphic depictions of genitalia to “teach” children about bodies, sexual and gender identity, masturbation, and sex.
“Wait, What?” is written by sex educators Isabella Rotman and Heather Corinna and is encouraged for children ages 9-14 years old or grades four through eight to read.
It’s written from the perspective of five children, one of whom is written using they/them pronouns. Another main character was written to be a transgender male-to-female student.
Sections of the book use cartoon pictures to depict several different male and female genitalia in various states of arousal. Children are also encouraged to use the guide provided in the book to draw “different sizes, shapes, and colors” of genitalia.
The graphic book also encourages children to masturbate, saying it is “healthy … sex by yourself.”
“Flamer” by Mike Curato is another explicit book in FWISD. This is not the first time “Flamer” has come under fire for being available to children.
This graphic novel is also written from the perspective of a child. It includes cartoon characters performing sexual acts on themselves and one another, partial nudity, and explicit behavior.
Libs of TikTok, who originally blasted Dallas ISD for allowing children to have access to the book, is now blasting FWISD for the same reason.
“Fort Worth Independent School District has still not learned their lesson when it comes to following the law regarding human sexuality instruction & appropriate content in libraries for Texas minors,” Hollie Plemons, a mom in Fort Worth, wrote on social media.
“Why ANY adult feels it is acceptable to put this kind of book into a public school library is beyond me,” she continued. “The children that attend these schools do NOT belong to the district, they belong to their parents & those parents have a legal right to know what kind of material is being made available for their children.”
Plemons said she then reached out to FWISD and shared her complaints about the books.
“These books have gone from available to checked out,” said Plemons. “I’m told FWISD is working to remove them.” She said she hopes the public pressure works.
Texas Family Project’s president, Brady Gray, told Texas Scorecard he is “encouraged to see folks like Hollie continue to hold their school districts accountable” and that other must do the same.
Independent journalist Sarah Fields also commented on the situation.
“I was just informed that Fort Worth ISD is now losing it while they scramble to find and remove these books,” said Fields. “Pressure works.”
House Bill 900—which will protect children from sexually vulgar and explicit books by regulating the books available in public school libraries—was passed this legislative session and will go into effect on September 1, 2023.
“As we approach the September 1st and see laws like HB900 take effect, it is imperative that parents stay vigilant,” said Gray. “There is nothing to suggest that those who have been grooming children for years will be deterred, and while we’re proud of the legislation that passed this session we should not think the war is over.”
As of publication, FWISD did not respond to Texas Scorecard’s request for comment.
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