If you accessed a banned book and it was meaningful to you, consider taking action to support the freedom to read in Utah. 1) Talk about this book with your parents, children and friends. 2) Share this book with others and ask them to pass it along. Consider returning it to one of the little free libraries near you (download the little free library map app to see where there are more libraries in our community: https://littlefreelibrary.org/app/) 3) Post about this book on social media. 4) Write our Governor and your Legislators to amend HB 374. See more about HB 374 and talking points below. 5) Write Washington County School Board Members to express your concerns about books being removed from our school libraries. 6) Build and install your own little free library at your home and keep it stocked full of banned books: https://littlefreelibrary.org/start/build-a-little-free-library/. What is HB 374? HB 374 is the Sensitive Materials in Schools Bill which passed the Utah legislature in March 2022 to remove “sensitive materials” deemed “pornographic” from Utah public schools and school libraries. The subsections of the bill define “sensitive materials” or “pornographic” as any depiction of nudity and/or sex, which means regardless of the educational, literary, social or artistic value of the work as a whole, or intention of the work, the Miller Test for obscenity is ignored, and a book in question with such content is automatically considered sensitive material and therefore subject to being banned. The Miller Test is a test created by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1973 when determining regulations for “obscenity” under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Miller Test for obscenity includes the following criteria: (1) whether ‘the average person, applying contemporary community standards’ would find that the work, ‘taken as a whole,’ appeals to ‘prurient interest’ (2) whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law, and (3) whether the work, ‘taken as a whole,’ lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. Since HB 374 passed in March 2022: - More than 205 books have been challenged in Utah public schools - More than 30 books have been banned in Washington County School District. Most books are being challenged by a small group of parents who are cherry picking the books for sexual content. Under the bill, books can be banned by school boards without anyone involved in the process having to read the book in its entirety to understand the context of the sexual references. Talking Points ● The legal definition of “pornography” is material of a sexual nature designed to provoke lascivious feelings, which violates contemporary community standards and has no serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value. ● While some books in question may arguably have sexually explicit content that could be deemed “pornographic”, the vast majority of the books in question are not intended to provoke lascivious feelings but rather to honestly portray real acts of sexuality (both consensual and coerced) that address important themes like sexual consent, teen pregnancy, sexual abuse, coercion, and rape; all topics relevant to teens today who are increasing exposed to real pornographic content through the Internet and social media, where boys and girls are increasingly sexualized in mainstream media, and where teens are under pressure to engage in “sexting” and other coercive activities regarding their sexuality. ● The Miller Test of the First Amendment says that works must be “taken as a whole”. Scenes should not be reviewed out of context of the broader themes and values of the work. ● While some books may not be appropriate for younger grades, high school libraries should be allowed to contain content that is real-life and relevant to teens who are experiencing sexual exposure and pressures. ● No society can truly be free that bans ideas. We cannot be free without the freedom to engage. The role of education is to expand our understanding of the world, not to limit or narrow our view. A free society does not restrict access to ideas or information. ● While some students in public schools have access to a public library, many do not. Providing diverse materials in a public school library allows equal rights and access to information for all. ● The definition of “sexual immorality”in HB 374 is subjective to an individuals’ personal belief systems, and what is acceptable in a public school should include a broader range of acceptability according to “contemporary community standards”. One group's beliefs and values shouldn’t dictate what all students in public schools can and cannot read. ● Books that deal with themes of sexual assault and abuse allow those who have suffered similar abuses to know they are not alone and to find their voice to speak up. Bans on these books are silencing voices of those who are speaking up about sexual assault and abuse. List of Banned Books in Washington County School District (as of January 2023) 1. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 2. Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur 3. Forever by Judy Blume 4. Looking For Alaska by John Green 5. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 6. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 7. Lucky by Alice Sebold 8. Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez 9. This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson 10. What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnold 11. Sold by Ny Patricia McCormick 12. Crank by Ellen Hopkins 13. Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina Garcia 14. People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins 15. Push by Sapphire 16. Shine by Lauren Myracle 17. The Haters by Jesse Andrews 18. Tilt by Ellen Hopkins 19. Triangles by Ellen Hopkins 20. Tricks by Ellen Hopkins 21. Breathless by Jennifer Niven 22. Fade by Lisa McMann 23. The Handmaid'sTale: The Graphic Novel by Margarette Atwood 24. Damsel by Elana K. Arnold 25. Red Hood by Elana K. Arnold 26. A Court Of Frost And Starlight by Sarah J. Maas 27. A Court Of Mist And Fury by Sarah J Mass 28. A Court Of Silver Flames by Sarah J Mass 29. A Court Of Wings And Ruin by Sarah J Mass 30. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Mass