Commonwealth Policy Center

The issue of pornography and obscenity in public schools was an issue in the Virginia governor’s race. Now Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is asking education leaders to make sure that bookshelves in school libraries don’t contain porn. In a letter to the Texas association of school boards, Gov. Abbot expects board members to “ensure no child is exposed to pornography or other inappropriate content in a Texas public school.” Several controversial books have been found on library shelves, including Gender Queer: A Memoir, by Maia Kobabe. Kobabe considers herself a nonbinary queer and advocates that children should be allowed to choose their own gender. Critics say this is censorship. But parents have every right to insist that libraries are wonderful resources that should contain wholesome and beautiful volumes dedicated to human flourishing and health.