IT APPEARS ROCKWOOD VIOLATED STATE LAW. LIBRARIANS ARE REMOVING THIS BOOK TODAY.

WARNING: SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IMAGES

The book is called, "This Book is Gay." Parents discovered sexually explicit images in the book and checked Rockwood's library database, which showed it in 3 Rockwood schools.

The discovery means the book was found in school libraries a year after a new state law went into effect last August. The law says schools who provide sexually explicit images to students are committing a class A misdemeanor. 

A parent alerted Rockwood librarians, and head librarian Margaret Sullivan said that they are removing the copies of the book from all 3 high schools that have had the book in their libraries: Eureka High School, Marquette High School and Rockwood Summit High School.

THE IMAGES
These are the sexually explicit images in the book, that have been available in Rockwood libraries to kids as young as 14 years old. They are in chapter 9 and show post-pubertal genitals.  If the images were simply explaining anatomy, they might not be in violation of the law. Instead, the images are explaining how to perform sex acts.

A closer look at the page that is easier to read:

A closer look at the page that is easier to read:

THE LAW

Specifically, in its definition of sexually explicit, the the law includes images that are "...emphasizing the depiction of postpubertal human genitals." 

WHAT HAPPENED?

It's not clear how long the book was in Rockwood's libraries, and, librarians may not have been aware of the images. They don't typically read books before putting them on library shelves. Instead, they primarily rely on association reviews, such as those from the American Library Association. 

Parents have stated they'd like Rockwood to also rely on parent reviews, including negative reviews like those seen below, on Amazon.com.

NOT AMONG 22 BOOKS REMOVED LAST YEAR

Rockwood librarians looked through books last year for sexually explicit images and pulled 22 books because of such images. They were primarily "graphic novels," which are comic-book style and mostly images. 

"This Book Is Gay" is not on that initial list and is not considered a graphic novel. Although the book is about sexual pleasure, written words are not in violation of current state law. Only the images are. 

 

NOT SCIENCE OR ART

Note: The state law makes exceptions for works of art or science education, but "This Book Is Gay" is not used for class instruction. It tells readers how to perform sex acts and attain sexual pleasure.

OTHER PAGES

NEGATIVE REVIEWS
Negative reviews on amazon.com that also posted similar photos.

LIBRARY DATABASE
This image shows the book in the library database known as Destiny. Librarians confirmed its existence on library shelves, to parents, last week. Rockwood's head librarian says they are removing those books from the shelves today, but, it may take another 24 hours for the book to be removed from the Destiny database.

THE EMAIL

THE LAW

This is the language in the law. The penalty for a class A misdemeanor is up to a year in jail and/or a $2,000 fine.