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Internet shocked as Sen John Kennedy reads explicit sex scenes from 'kids' books' libs want kept in schools

Senator John Kennedy read explicit passages from the two books during the anti-book ban law hearing held on Tuesday, September 12

Warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised

ILLINOIS, CHICAGO: Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, along with the Internet, were shocked and "disturbed" as the 71-year-old Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) read sexually graphic excerpts from the two books 'Gender Queer' and 'All Boys Aren't Blue' in an attempt to ban them. 

The hearing on Tuesday, September 12, marked another instance of the Republicans striving to purge inappropriate subject matters from the reading lists of school children. 

During the hearing, Senator Kennedy read out some of the "disturbing" passages from the two books that included words like "masturbated," "a**," "c**k," "strap-on harness," and "d**do." Both books came under scanner after they were banned from a few Illinois schools and public libraries because of explicit content.

Why are the two books 'Gender Queer' and 'All Boys Aren't Blue' under scrutiny?

Senator John Kennedy read verbatim from the books, which visibly "disturbed" the Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulis, as he thought they were unfit to be kept in school libraries. After reading the section, he asked Giannoulias, "What are you asking us to do?"

He continued, "Are you suggesting that only librarians should decide whether the two books that I just referenced should be available to kids? Is that what you're saying," reports Daily Mail.

When Giannoulias replied negatively, Kennedy continued in his assail and said, "Don't give me a speech, tell me what you're asking."

The Secretary of State then replied, "With all due respect, senator, the words you spoke are disturbing – especially coming out of your mouth – is very disturbing," before adding, "But what I would also tell you that we're not advocating for kids to read porn." 

He also stated, "We are advocating for parents, random parents not to have the ability – under the guise of keeping kids safe – to try and challenge the world view of every single manner on these issues."

Giannoulias said that instead of allowing librarians to decide the suitability of books for children, he specifically wants to make sure "individual parents are [not] allowed to make a decision of where that line is in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' – which involves a rape scene."

The Secretary of State added, "Should that book be pulled from our libraries? I think it becomes a slippery slope."

Senator Kennedy replied, "Well, I think you ought to think about it a little bit more before you come here," along with, "If you're going to propose something, you ought to be able – in 30 seconds – to be able to explain what you're asking us to do."

What is the Illinois Library System Act?

Elsewhere, Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias promoted the new law named the Illinois Library System Act, which is intended to protect freedom of speech in the state by preventing book bans, as per CBS Chicago.

According to the news publication, the law that is scheduled to take effect from January 1, 2024, will prohibit state funding to the libraries, which will ban books for "partisan or doctrinal" reasons.

Per the new law, which is named the Illinois Library System Act, the libraries of the state will not be eligible for funding if they fail to obey the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights. As per the Bill of Rights, books "should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval."

When Giannoulias testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, he said, "This legislation is important, because both the concept and the practice of banning books contradicts the very essence of what our country stands for, and what our democracy was founded on."

As per the American Library Association’s data, there were 67 attempts to ban books in Illinois in 2022.

Internet reacts to the conversation between John Kennedy and Alexi Giannoulias

Following Senator John Kennedy's reading of the "disturbing" passages, parents and other social media users created a furor on the issue, condemning the law and expressing their grievances through strongly worded posts on X (formerly Twitter).

An angry citizen vented out, "“So that Random parents don’t have the ability to question the world view on some topics”??????! Random parents? World view? On what porn?! For children?!"

Another assailed, "Yes, they want to effectively own your kids for the 8 hours per day. They want full control in programming them. You interfere they’ll label you as an unfit parent and take the away. That’s where this is going. They want to take power away from parents."

Someone else commented, ""Those words are disturbing" in a school library book. Full stop."

Another concerned parent said hypothetically, "Wonder that the Sec of State would think if one of his kids brought one of those books home?! It’s all good and well until it affects them directly…"

"Books shouldn’t be banned, certain content should be unavailable to children. This isn’t hard," said one with hope, while another joked, "He had no idea what was even in the book!"

"P**nography is the only way to describe it," declared someone else about the two books referenced by Senator Kennedy.