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Commentary

‘Teach Kids to Read Week’: Moms for Liberty Launches Event Countering LGBT Ideology

October 5, 2023

In 2021, Moms for Liberty was founded to protect parent’s rights to raise their own children. Scattered across America, Moms for Liberty is comprised of moms, dads, and activists alike fighting against the LGBT ideology infiltrating schools, policies, and more. They are fighting to protect children.

This week, the American Library Association (ALA), a taxpayer funded organization, is hosting “Banned Books Week” for children, which involves reading books like “Gender Queer,” a title infamously known for its pornographic content and is banned in multiple school districts. To counter this event, Moms for Liberty launched “Teach Kids to Read Week.” Supported by Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters, this counter-event serves to “refocus on the well-being of the nation’s children,” The Post Millennial wrote.

Rather than reading sexual content to kids (which ALA is and will be doing this week), Moms for Liberty seeks to take the attention away from gender ideology to highlight the many children who do not know how to read. According to The Post Millennial, these are some facts they are highlighting:

  • “America’s children are experiencing a 33 out of 100 reading proficiency rate.”
  • “Only 19 out of every 100 low-income 4th grade students are proficient in reading.”
  • “Only 17 out of 100 4th grade black students are proficient in reading.”

Tina Descovich and Tiffany Justice, co-founders of Moms for Liberty, released a joint statement which read, “America’s kids no longer know how to read and rather than highlighting that issue, these groups want to allow kids to access pornographic materials and other inappropriate materials. This is unacceptable, and we are proud to continue to fight for America’s children and encourage kids to learn how to read.”

The Federalist wrote, “ALA hosts a ‘Banned Books Week’ to celebrate so-called ‘free expression’ in material that is extremely inappropriate and technically illegal for children, while concurrently trying to ban books and story hours for children on themes of patriotism, faith, and family.”

Joseph Backholm, senior fellow for Biblical Worldview and Strategic Engagement at Family Research Council, commented to The Washington Stand, “It seems pretty obvious that ‘Banned Books Week’ is just an effort to smear people they dislike.” He discussed how events like these often serve to cover up the true intentions of the opposition. “Of course, parents aren’t looking to stop the publishing, sale, or distribution of these books, they’re just looking to protect the innocence of children by not exposing them to material that is harmful for them.”

Considering how students are becoming less proficient in academics, Backholm said it’s “unsurprising that the more we embrace rebellion against God the dumber we become.” He continued, “Romans 1 makes it clear one result of our sin is that our thinking becomes futile, and our foolish hearts are darkened. Sin is both the result and cause of ignorance, bad thinking, [and] bad decisions.” He shared how too much time is put into “obsessing about pronouns and lamenting those who don’t want their children to read cartoon pornography,” and what truly matters is being set aside. “The kids can’t read, in part, because the adults have determined there are higher priorities,” he said.

Backholm concluded, “Christians need to see the sinfulness that leads to decay as an expected and natural consequence of pretending we’re smarter than God. Our job is to not fall into that same trap and live differently. Our character, aptitude, and joy should be testaments to the fact that God’s ways are better and produce much better results.” 

Sarah Holliday is a reporter at The Washington Stand.



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