Christian teacher pressures school into removing LGBTQ+ children’s books

[Jessica_Rose ✅]

Christian teacher pressures elementary school into removing over 20 LGBTQ+ children's books

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/09/christian-teacher-pressures-elementary-school-into-removing-over-20-lgbtq-childrens-books/ 🔗

Daniel Villarreal (2 Sep 2026)

A charter school in Nashville, Tennessee, removed over 20 LGBTQ+ children's books from its elementary school libraries after a Christian teacher was disciplined for refusing to read one about lesbian mothers to his students.

Eric Rivera, a first-grade teacher at the Knowledge is Power Program (KIPP) Antioch College Prep Elementary School, refused to read Patricia Polacco's 2009 children's book In Our Mothers' House to his class last February, saying the book's depiction of a same-sex couple went against his religious beliefs. Although Rivera had a colleague read the book to his students, the school's principal reportedly removed Rivera from his classroom and reassigned him to another post due to his refusal to read the book.

Rivera obtained legal representation through the First Liberty Institute, a Christian nationalist legal advocacy group. Last March, the group got the school to clear Rivera's record and agree to "permit all teachers to ask another employee to read materials objectionable to their faith," The Tennessee Star reported.

The legal group argued that Rivera was entitled to a religious accommodation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on religion and other personal characteristics.

The First Liberty Institute then reportedly contacted the Tennessee attorney general about the presence of other LGBTQ+-themed children's books in the school's libraries. On August 28, The Tennessee Star reported that the school removed all LGBTQ+ children's books from its elementary school libraries.
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@Sarah B

[Devlyn ✅]

Let's be honest though, that book advocates slavery, throwing rocks at people, and burning them to death.