34th #FilthyBooks Example: Flamer by Mike Curato. Sexually Explicit Depictions of Sex Acts and Nudity of Young Adolescent Boys
Sent to all Texas legislators in the TX Senate and House on 4/5/2023
Dear Honorable Texas Legislator,
Your 34th #FilthyBook found in Texas schools is Flamer by Mike Curato.
Just like the others, it is filled with sexually explicit content depicting young teenage boys in sexual acts and sexual nudity. Despite this, it is recommended for children by librarians.
School Library Journal recommends it for 8th graders:
"Curato has created a beautiful story of a teen who must decide if he will force himself into the mold of what he thinks a “normal” boy is, or if he can allow himself to live life on his own terms. An essential book that shows readers that they are never alone in their struggles." ―School Library Journal, starred review
You might be asking yourselves how an author can depict pornographic and sexually explicit content in books marketed to children. Texas penal code 43.24 requires that we consider a material's theme as a whole when we determine if it meets the standard definition of "harmful materials" in our penal code. It also must be "utterly without redeeming social value."
Essentially, books can contain pornographic drawings, sexual nudity, and offensive sexual commentary and not meet the definition of harmful materials because the theme is not prurient in interest or utterly without redeeming social value.
The authors, editors, and publishers understand this. That's why they are able to depict children in sex acts, sexual nudity, and offensive sexual content and get away with it!
TX SB 828 by Senator Bob Hall and TX HB 5035 by Representative Steve Toth would remove those loopholes in Texas Penal Code 43.24.
Flamer by Mike Curato has been found in middle schools and high schools across the state of Texas. Is it in one of your ISDs? Follow the link to search the library collection of most schools:
https://www.gofollett.com/aasp/ui/pick/picked
The RPT Subcommittee: Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids is committed to driving legislation that will prohibit sexually explicit books from Texas school libraries and children's sections of libraries across the state. We WILL NOT support legislation that codifies into Texas law that sexually explicit books can be in the library, and checked out, with parental permission.
The state has a compelling interest to protect kids from sexualization and harmful materials in their libraries. Children throughout the state need the same protection, regardless of where they live and go to school.
Please reach out to me if you have questions.
In liberty and God’s grace,
Christin Bentley, M.S.
SREC-SD1 and Chair of the RPT’s Legislative Priorities Subcommittee: Stop Sexualizing Texas Kids
Book report of explicit content from boolooks.org:
http://booklooks.org/data/files/Book%20Looks%20Reports/F/Flamer.pdf