Florida Mom Who Challenged Graphic Rape Book Says Reviewers Didn’t Even Read Her Complaint
LITHIA, FLORIDA — A committee tasked with reviewing the contents of a sexually explicit book in the library of a Tampa-area high school voted unanimously to keep the book accessible to students.
Julie Gebhards, a Tampa mom who has been actively trying to remove inappropriate books from Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) for the past two years, petitioned the Newsome High School to remove Ellen Hopkins’ Identical.
Gebhards posted a video from the Education Materials Committee public meeting tasked with reviewing her book challenge.
“They didn’t read one thing from the book,” Gebhards said in a video rant posted on her Instagram page. “They didn’t say one word about my challenge. All they did was go through their checklist from the American Library Association. … The same checklist that they used to get the book into the library, which obviously doesn’t filter out pornography. Because listen: This is a father raping his daughter.”
The American Library Association (ALA) has been a leading opponent of parents attempting to remove sexually explicit books from public school libraries. In many cases, the challenged books have been recommended by the ALA, which effectively shields individual school libraries from any disciplinary action stemming from what might otherwise be considered inappropriate book selection.
Gebhards then read a short passage from the book that describes a father sexually abusing his 9-year-old daughter, quoted below:
He lifted her gently, sat her down on the bed beside him. Then he opened the snaps on the fly of his flannel pajamas. It stood up, stiff as a stalagmite. See how much Daddy loves you? Show me you love me, too. Touch it. He closed her hand around it. I know it sounds bad, but I wanted to touch it too. I didn’t know what it meant, only that it made Daddy happy. I wanted to make him happy too. (Identical, p. 150)
Gebhards went on to cite examples in the book where she says self-harm, suicide and drugs are portrayed in a positive light.
“I’m truly sickened by this,” she added. “What in the world are we teaching young people?”
HOW THE STATE DEFINES “HARMFUL TO MINORS”
Gebhard’s video of the meeting shows that the committee determined the book did not violate Florida statute 847 designed to protect children from overt sexualization.
The statute defines “Harmful to minors” as “any reproduction, imitation, characterization, description, exhibition, presentation, or representation, of whatever kind or form, depicting nudity, sexual conduct, or sexual excitement.”
The law goes on to list three instances where a vivid description of sexual conduct could be permissible, including if the material offers “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.”
The committee did not elaborate on why they determined it did not violate statute 847.
A spokesperson for the district declined to comment on the committee’s decision.
FAILED BOOKS CHALLENGES
Getting sexually explicit books out of school libraries in Hillsborough County is a tall order these days.
Parents are told they must go through a cumbersome challenge process to remove any objectionable books. The process has to be carried out for the same book at every individual school library housing it.
In October, another Hillsborough County parent failed to get Blankets – a book containing nude drawings depicting sex acts – removed from Plant High School library. The challenge committee at Plant unanimously voted to allow 14-year-olds continued access to the book. When Gebhards tried to show the school board the images that were in Blankets, a police officer at the meeting confiscated her display.
READ MORE: Cop Stops Tampa Mom from Showing School Board Nudity She Found in Kids Library Book
During the 2022-2023 school year, Gebhards tried to get Pierce Middle School to remove This Book is Gay – a book that instructs young readers about proper anal sex techniques and how to use a homosexual hookup app designed for adults.
Two different review committees voted to keep the book in the schools. A third appeal took the challenge to the school board in March, where board members voted 4-3 in favor of removing it.
Prior to the board’s decision, the district published Gebhards’ personal information – including her full name, phone number, email and home address – on the HCPS website in advance of the meeting. After the meeting, a Left-wing activist called out the parents by name on social media and directed followers to look at the district website in order to see their information.
In January, House Speaker Paul Renner opened an investigation into the district, requesting information as to how the committee reached their conclusion. Renner never published any of his findings nor took any disciplinary action.
“As a result of our action, the district reversed their decision to promote certain inappropriate materials in school libraries,” Renner’s spokesman Andrés Malavé told The Florida Standard when asked about the investigation in August.
“Further, a review of the materials the district provided led us to amend statutes to improve the challenge process.”