Glendale Unified School District (GUSD) in California has been using a sexually explicit textbook, “Feminist Frontiers, Tenth Edition,” for nearly two years, raising significant concerns among parents and the community. The textbook, approved by the GUSD Board of Education in February 2022 for a high school women’s studies elective, contains graphic content, including discussions of group sex, drug use, sex with blow-up dolls, and other explicit sexual acts. The book features online writings and blog posts that delve into highly explicit topics, such as one post titled, “Wanna Bang a STR8 Dude in Front of His Girl?” and another seeking a “j***-off buddy.” Despite these graphic elements, then-Vice President of the GUSD Board, Nayiri Nahabedian, lauded the textbook as “well-balanced” and a valuable addition to the curriculum.
The approval of the textbook came during a time when school materials were under intense scrutiny nationwide, with many parents demanding greater transparency and control over the content presented to their children. There is no evidence that GUSD made parents aware of the graphic nature of the book before its approval and use in classrooms. The book’s content would likely be objectionable to many parents, especially given its explicit references to sexual activities and drug use.
— Amanda (@AmandaPresto) August 19, 2024
An Instagram account representing concerned GUSD parents recently claimed that the district has abruptly removed the textbook from use. However, GUSD has not responded to inquiries about the current status of the book or provided an explanation for why such a controversial textbook was approved in the first place. This controversy follows a series of issues within the district, including protests last school year over a lack of transparency, inappropriate LGBT curriculum, and controversial district policies.
