Rochester Public Schools defended its decision to remove 'The Rainbow Parade' from elementary school libraries, citing nude illustrations as inappropriate for younger children.
A Minnesota public school district defended its decision to remove an LGBTQ children's book from its elementary school shelves, despite facing objections from some parents and school librarians. Rochester Public Schools said it pulled the 2022 book, 'The Rainbow Parade' by Emily Neilson, from its elementary school media center last month after a Franklin Elementary School parent raised concerns about nude illustrations in the book.
The book tells a story about a young girl going to her first Pride parade with her two moms. Several pages within the book have illustrations depicting full or partial public nudity, including two men in bondage gear. 'The sidewalk outside is filled with people waiting for the parade to start. Everyone is wearing whatever makes them feel most like themselves. Even if that means wearing hardly anything at all,' the text reads. After concerns were raised by a parent, the book was reviewed by a committee comprised of librarians, community members and teachers, who ultimately recommended the district keep the book on the shelves, according to a report in The Minnesota Star Tribune. 'Not all books are for everyone, but our goal is to have books that represent all students in our school district,' said Tammy Van Moer, library media specialist at Rochester Public Schools, according to the report. However, Superintendent Kent Pekel decided to remove the book from elementary school libraries, saying the nudity shown was inappropriate for younger children. 'My decision to direct the removal of the book The Rainbow Parade from our elementary media center shelves is not based upon restricting student access to a viewpoint, message, idea, or opinion. It is based solely upon the depiction and celebration of public nudity in illustrations on two pages of the book. I believe that the depiction of public nudity makes the book inappropriate for the open shelves of a media center in an elementary school where students as young as kindergarten can access the book without adult supervision or guidance,' he wrote. School board members expressed mixed opinions on the superintendent's decision, with some members wondering aloud if removing the book would take the district down a 'slippery slope' and set a 'precedent' for removing other LGBTQ books from school libraries. The board ultimately approved sending the superintendent's recommendation to the Minnesota Department of Education, the Tribune reported. After the topic was brought up at the January 7 school board meeting, Superintendent Pekel vowed there would be 'no backtracking' on their schools' commitment to LGBTQ students and families, after repeated outbursts from one parent angry about the district's decision. 'There will be no slippery slope on backtracking on books that celebrate the lived experiences of LGBTQ students and families,' he pledged. He also clarified that the nudity alone was the reason for his decision and not other content in the book some might find objectionable, such as two men dressed in bondage gear or a protest sign reading 'Silence equals death.' When reached for comment, Rochester Public Schools provided Fox News Digital with Pekel's previous memo to the board. The district's decision comes at a time when books with explicit content in school libraries are being challenged by parents. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The American Library Association (ALA), the oldest and largest library nonprofit in the world, has been an outspoken champion for 'banned' books in children's libraries. In 2023, the top ten challenged books were all challenged due to explicit sexual content. During National Library Week last year, the ALA claimed that the 'censorship' of sexually explicit books in children's libraries is discriminatory to the LGBTQ+ community. Fox News' Jamie Joseph contributed to this report
LGBTQ+ Rights LGBTQ BOOKS SCHOOL LIBRARIES NUDITY MINNESOTA REMOVAL
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Cyber hack compromised personal data of all current, former students in Granite School District, district saysAfter Granite School District said it suffered a cyber security incident that compromised the personal information of its employees, the district updated its initial statement Monday, revealing that the data leak also impacted 'all current and former Granite School District students.
Read more »
San Diego School District Votes to Become Welcoming District for All StudentsThe San Diego Unified School District unanimously voted to become a Welcoming District for All Students, aiming to ensure the safety and well-being of all students, families, and staff. The resolution, passed in anticipation of potential changes in federal policy, emphasizes the district's commitment to supporting LGBTQIA+ students and its refusal to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) except with a warrant.
Read more »
San Diego News: School District Declares 'Welcoming District', Two Found Dead in VehicleThis news bulletin covers two major stories in San Diego: the San Diego Unified School District's resolution to become a 'Welcoming District' and the discovery of two deceased individuals in a vehicle.
Read more »
San Jose school district latest to announce school closures amid budget crisisAlum Rock Union School District became the latest district to announce school closures and consolidations in the wake of a $20 million budget shortfall.
Read more »
High School Runner Loses Varsity Spot to Transgender Athlete, Parents Sue School DistrictA California high school cross-country runner lost her varsity spot to a transgender athlete, sparking a lawsuit against the school district from the runner's family and other parents.
Read more »
Georgia Appeals Court Removes District Attorney From Trump Election Interference CaseA state appeals court in Georgia has removed Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from the election interference case against former President Donald Trump and others. However, the court did not dismiss the indictment, leaving the future of the prosecution uncertain.
Read more »