In lieu of the traditional Bible, two newly-elected schools board members in separate states chose to be sworn-in on a stack of LGBT books, including some that have been banned from schools across the country.
Karl Frisch, an openly gay Democrat, was sworn-in on Dec. 16 as the new chairman of the Fairfax County School Board, Virginia on a stack of controversial books that included “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” “Gender Queer,” “Lawn Boy,” The Perks of Being a Wallflower,“ and ”Flamer.”
According to the American Library Association (ALA), “Flamer” by Mike Curato was the most banned book from public school libraries in 2022. It has won many awards including New Hampshire Public Radio’s Best Book in 2020. It was also named among the top “must reads” for middle grade and young readers by the Massachusetts Center for the Book.
The book includes graphically detailed dialogues between male characters including minors about their genitalia, and illustrations of naked teenage boys. All five books in Mr. Frisch’s stack include sexually graphic pictures of homosexual acts and descriptive sexual encounters between boys or between an adult and a minor.
The other books are ranked by ALA as some of the most frequently banned books from public and school libraries.
Pennsylvania
A week before Mr. Frisch’s swearing-in, Karen Smith was sworn-in as the new president of the Central Bucks School Board in Pennsylvania using similarly controversial books.In addition to “Flamer” and “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” Ms. Smith took her office on a stack of LGBT books that include “Beyond Magenta,” a sexually graphic book about a trans teen and the second most banned book in America, according to the ALA.
She declined to comment to questions from The Epoch Times on picking the controversial books for her swearing-in, saying she had “received quite a bit of nasty feedback” when she agreed to an interview with another conservative media outlet and “would rather not stir up a negative reaction.”
Mr. Frisch, who represents the Providence District on the Fairfax County School Board, did not respond to inquiries from The Epoch Times, but he did say in a statement: “Fairfax County residents want safe and inclusive schools with exceptional, well-compensated educators and equitable access to the rigorous academic and enrichment opportunities every student needs to succeed. I am grateful for the trust Providence District families have placed in me, and with tonight’s Oath, I commit to standing strong for these values and advancing these priorities with my new and returning colleagues.”
According to Americans United, a nonprofit that advocates for the separation of church and state, a growing number of elected officials are choosing alternatives to the Christian Bible for taking oaths of office including comics and Dr. Seuss books.
Contrary to popular belief, the organization emphasizes that there is no legal mandate requiring an elected official be sworn into office using the Bible or by swearing to God.
“Christian Nationalists claim to revere the U.S. Constitution. Perhaps they should read what it says about this issue,” the group writes on its website. “No wording is specified, and no books are mentioned.”
Indeed, in 2019, both U.S. Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) used the Quran, the religious text of Islam, for their swearing-in ceremonies.
Local Parents
Stacy Langton is a Fairfax County parent who became a national figure when she had her mic turned off while reading out loud excerpts from one of the books used by Ms. Smith and Mr. Frisch. She found the book in the local school library.School board members admonished her for reading the books out loud because “there were children in the audience.”
Ms. Langton told The Epoch Times that she feels Mr. Frisch “deliberately made a mockery” of Christianity and the many parents who have spoken out against the books, by choosing them to sworn-in on.
Ms. Langton, a conservative Catholic mom, added that her own mother was a lesbian and would have been appalled by the use of the books by a school board member.
“She would have seen it for what it is, a promotion of pedophilia,” said Ms. Langton, who added that Mr. Frisch has already violated his oath of office that promises to be impartial.
“I will faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties incumbent upon me as the Providence District member to the Fairfax County School Board according to the best of my ability, so help me God,” Mr. Frisch recited as part of his pledge.
Sherry Kuffel, another local parent, told The Epoch Times that if Mr. Frisch wanted to debunk tradition without offending anyone he could have just chosen not to use any books and just raised his hand to take his oath.
“It’s really a slap in the face is what it is,” she said. “It was his way of saying, ‘We are going to go against you parents and move right ahead with indoctrinating your children, like it or not,” said Ms. Kuffel.
Ms. Kuffel recently drew backlash from some in the LGBT community when she read from the book “The Bluest Eye” at a school board meeting to demonstrate how inappropriate it is for students.
She said she actually got a round of applause from a group of teenage boys in the audience for her literary protest.
The book, which she found on the shelf at the local high school library, has been condemned by some parents for its excessively graphic depictions of things like an incestuous rape and for promoting hatred of white people.
“Not appropriate for high school!” wrote one parent on Common Sense Media that rates the age appropriateness of movies and literature. “The book graphically discusses many sexual topics including orgasms, prostitution, incest, rape, nudity, pornography, molestation, pedophilia, masturbation, sexual dreams, homosexuality, bestiality and sodomy. Characters talk many times about hurting white people. There is nothing good about this book!”
The book was among those used by Ms. Smith as part of her swearing-in ceremony.
