Two South Texas public libraries display a number of books in their children’s sections that some parents consider sexually explicit, according to a report.
New Braunfels’ two public libraries display books in their early readers, juvenile, and youth sections that depict masturbation, sexual acts, and naked transgender individuals, the Texas Scorecard reported. The discovery was made by a local mother named Joeylynn Mesaros, who said she and other parents find the display unacceptable.
“As a Christian woman, it’s hard to look at this stuff,” Mesaros told Texas Scorecard. “But if we’re ignoring that it’s there, then we’re ignoring the fact that our children are having to look at it.”
New Braunfels Public Library did not respond to a request for comment.
One book reportedly titled Sex is a Funny Word depicts body parts, noting that touching them “can feel good.” The book was designated for juveniles.
Another book titled You Do You explains how to masturbate, which it refers to as “getting yourself off.” The book, designated for youths, states that masturbation is the “safest form of sex.”
Another book titled Let’s Talk About It depicts naked bodies and sex and contains instructions on how to masturbate.
Randi Ceh, another parent who helped Mesaros find the books, said she and Mesaros are dedicated to ensuring such books are no longer available to children.
“We love our country and the children in this community, and it is appalling that these types of books are being pushed onto the children,” Ceh told Texas Scorecard. “It is complete sexualization, and they use freedom of speech to force it on us.”
“We had to pray intermittently during the scouring, because it is dark what is in those books,” she continued. “I cannot even imagine what it is doing to the kids. We are willing to fight this fight until we get something done. Children are our next leaders, we need them to grow up healthy, not in a world of perversion.”
A video obtained by the Texas Scorecard of New Braunfels Mayor Neal Linnartz at a mayoral debate shows him claiming to oppose children’s access to sexually explicit books.
“I do believe in the First Amendment, but not to that extent,” he said in the video. “That kind of stuff has no place in the children’s section. That’s got to be removed. In fact, I had no idea, so I’m going to be asking the City Manager about that tomorrow.”
Linnartz walked back the statement after he was elected, telling city council members that “city council is not in the business of putting, picking, or placing library books.”
The mayor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Less than 200 miles away from New Braunfels, the Harris County Commissioners Court recently decided to make the Harris County Public Library (HCPL) system into a “book sanctuary.”
The HCPL Book Sanctuary Resolution aims to counter what it calls a threat to Texans’ “freedom to read.”
Ed Melton, the director of the HCPL, said the resolution serves as a way to promote diversity in the community.
“I think it’s very important for the library to be able to provide content and information to everyone, especially in the community that is so diverse in terms of Harris County, and the thing about books is that it’s always going to be a reflection of yourself or personal experience or a window that you can share an experience with someone else,” said Melton during a September 19 meeting of the Harris County Commissioners Court.
