Debate over Obscene Books in Oregon Schools Heats Up
Oregon House Republicans oppose Senate Bill 1098, arguing explicit books should not be in schools, emphasizing local control over educational content and decorum standards.
Salem, OR. – Today, a work session was held on Senate Bill 1098, which aims to keep obscene and sexually explicit books on the shelves of school libraries by “prohibiting discrimination” when selecting or retaining school library materials. House Republicans say this is wrong.
“If a book on our school library shelves does not meet the standard to be read aloud on the House floor, it should not meet the standard for our schools,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby). “Discernment is not discrimination. Common sense is not censorship. I urge this body to do everything it can to restore decency in our schools.”
“House rules say a person may not use indecent or profane language during a debate. By gaveling down a member for reading the language from a book available in school libraries, this body is admitting the language is indecent or profane, which we have been told would not be allowed in our schools” said Rep. Virgle Osborne (R-Roseburg). “It must be one or other. We can’t have both.”
“It is the job of locally elected school boards and parents to determine what is appropriate for our children to read, not the state,” said Rep. Ed Diehl (R-Stayton). “If this bill passes, we are failing Oregon families by eroding their trust in our education system.”
Representative Dwayne Yunker addressed the issue in a post on X, providing a clip of the reading.
Today’s remonstrance took 35 minutes to speak on SB 1098. I’m only allowed 3 minutes, and I was stopped twice. I pushed the issue that the House floor rules are stricter than a child having access to pornographic books in school libraries. I also forced the Democrats to state… pic.twitter.com/m05s7slQ65
— Rep. Dwayne Yunker HD3 (@RepYunker) March 18, 2025
Representative Ed Diehl also commented on the issue of having a book with explicit language, which violates the legislature’s rules on decorum, but is found in school libraries, being read on the floor of the house.
Oregon House Democrats debating whether pornography and obscenities should be read on the floor of the house.
— Rep. Real Diehl (@Real_EdDiehl) March 17, 2025
Why is this even being debated? Why wasn't it immediately gaveled, since it is a clear and obvious violation of house decorum? Because the book being read by… pic.twitter.com/3sUd0MXnaP
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