Moms for Liberty pushes for removal of ‘pornographic’ book from Hernando schools
BROOKSVILLE — A woman in the audience led her son from the Oct. 22 School Board meeting as Kara Floyd of Moms for Liberty began reading explicit passages from a book she said is not only in one school library, but has been checked out from another.
The book, titled “What Girls Are Made Of,” by Elana K. Arnold, has been banned elsewhere for “sexually explicit scenes that critics call pornography,” according to National Public Radio, and for giving accolades to Planned Parenthood.
The book was checked out at Central High School but due back soon, Floyd said, and was on the shelf at Springstead High School.
“I will be reading passages from this book to ensure that the state of Florida has a record of the pornographic materials this district openly provides to children,” Floyd said.
She asked that anyone under 18 leave the room, then began reading the explicit passages.
The book is controversial and has been challenged at numerous schools across the country.
Floyd said the book violates HB 1069 because it is pornographic material being provided to children, with profanity and controversial religious material.
“How can you justify allowing a book in your school libraries that encourages young girls to kill their unborn babies?” she demanded. “Is the Hernando County School District proudly employing perverts and groomers who promote such harmful material to children?”
It’s a clear violation and it needs to be addressed immediately, she added.
When board member Gus Guadagnino asked why she didn’t submit a formal challenge, Floyd said there were “issues” with submitting a challenge. Just run a survey for parents asking if they want their child to have access to sexually explicit pornography in the school library, she said.
Board member Shannon Rodriguez said that that “smut” shouldn’t be on the shelves in the first place.
Floyd said Arnold, the author, has published other books in 2023.
“We challenge books, they get removed and more keep coming in,” Floyd said. “So who is actually vetting these books?” Apparently, she added, they are being employed to vet and keep these books.
Rodriguez asked Superintendent Ray Pinder if more books were coming in, and he said they were buying books all the time.