Dupage Policy Journal

State Rep. Amy Grant (R-Wheaton) is among a growing group of Republican lawmakers openly expressing their opposition to a bill that would prohibit libraries from banning books under certain circumstances.

"What I am really against is the thought of our textbooks being inappropriate," Grant said. "I think parents need to be informed about the textbooks coming into their childrens' schools and they should be able to have a say about it. Right now, there are certain health textbooks that are really perverted and I’m very concerned about using these kinds of textbooks."

Republican lawmakers in Springfield are standing in unison in their opposition to House Bill 2789 that recently passed the House prohibiting libraries from banning books or other material because of partisan or doctrinal pressure.

In a recent email sent to a Downers Grove 99 District parent, Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele held firm in his support of the "Gender Queer" graphic arts novel being in the library at Downers Grove North and South high schools. The book by Maia Kobabe has illustrations of gay sex.

The same novel was recently removed from the library shelves of Harlem Unit School District 122 based on a school board vote, with Lynette Hoffman describing the art novel to WIFR as “porn,” adding "we're talking incest, molestation and pedophilia."

Grant also said parents should have a bigger say in school curriculum.

"I think parents should be fully notified about what their children are being taught in schools and they can then determine how they want to handle it and what course of direction would be best for their child," Grant said.