Good morning, 

Here is the Texas Minute for Thursday, September 28, 2023.

– Brandon Waltens 

Libs of TikTok Calls Out Anti-School Choice Texas Lawmaker

• Popular conservative social media account Libs of TikTok called Republican State Rep. Travis Clardy of Nacogdoches “the living definition of a hypocrite” in a new article. Katy Marshall has the story. 
   

• Libs of TikTok is accusing Clardy of opposing school choice legislation in the Texas House despite sending his own children to a private school. They note he has also taken campaign funds from organizations that fight against education freedom.
   

• The group also contacted Clardy and asked about potentially sexually explicit materials discovered at schools in his district, including the book “Flamer” by Mike Curato. The graphic novel features scenes depicting discussions of sexually explicit topics, partial nudity, and allusions to masturbation.
   

• In response, Clardy said he rejected “the idea that woke indoctrination is happening in my district and in east Texas rural public schools. My teachers and school administrators are hard working individuals that have committed to provide quality education to our kids and they’ll continue to do just that."
   

• School choice advocate Corey DeAngelis has echoed the criticism of Clardy opposing school choice despite sending his children to a private school.

Judge Deems Texas Law Restricting Drag Shows Targeting Children ‘Unconstitutional’​​​​

• A federal judge ruled in favor of allowing children to be exposed to sexual drag performances by declaring a new Texas law unconstitutional. Soli Rice has the details. 
   

• Senate Bill 12 by State Sen. Bryan Hughes restricts sexually explicit performances on public property and in the presence of children. The measure makes the performance a Class A misdemeanor, and anyone who violates the law would be subject up to $10,000 in fines per offense.
   

• U.S. District Judge David Hittner—a Reagan appointee—granted The Woodlands Pride Inc, Abilene Pride Alliance, Extragrams LLC, 360 Queen Entertainment LLC, and drag performer Brigitte Bandit a temporary restraining order against the new law earlier this month. 
   

• This week, Hittner issued a permanent injunction against the legislation. The ruling prevents the Texas attorney general and other elected state officials from enforcing the law.
   

• According to Hittner, drag shows are constitutionally protected as “free speech.”
   

• Pro-family activists and legislators are not done fighting against the sexualization of children through drag performance exposure, and expect the ruling to be appealed shortly. 

Law Keeping Sexually Explicit Books Out of Schools Goes Back into Effect

• Meanwhile, a new state law keeping sexually explicit books out of Texas’ school libraries has been allowed to take effect once again after the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals blocked a federal judge’s injunction.
   
• Emily Medeiros reports a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking House Bill 900 last week. Dubbed the READER Act, the law prohibits school libraries from housing materials that are sexually explicit, vulgar, or educationally unsuitable.
   
• The new state law also requires vendors to rate and label books based on sexual content. Vendors that fail to comply cannot sell books to Texas schools.
   
• Shortly after Judge Alan Albright, a Trump appointee, handed down his ruling, it was quickly appealed by the state and moved to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
   
• This week, the appeals court blocked the lower court's injunction until a further order is entered. The ruling effectively allows HB 900 to go back into effect for now. 
   

• Brady Gray, president of Texas Family Project, told Texas Scorecard that while they’re excited about the recent ruling, the fight is not over.
   

• “We’re thankful that obscene books are once again off-limits at public libraries and schools. While this ruling is welcome, we know the fight isn’t over and that the left is determined to keep explicit content available to children. We’ll keep fighting to protect the family and Texas kids,” said Gray.

LGBT Group Promoted Radical Books While Protesting BRAVE Books Story Hour

• Local LGBT group “The Woodlands Pride” hosted a “Popsicles with Pride” event to collect radical books for the Montgomery County Public Library System during a BRAVE Books Story Hour. Sydnie Henry has the story. 
   

• BRAVE Books, headquartered in Texas, publishes faith-based children’s books promoting traditional American values.
   

• During Saturday’s reading at The Woodlands South Regional Library, BRAVE Books CEO Trent Talbot read The Island of Free Ice Cream to a crowd of parents and children, a book that teaches children about the dangers of socialism.
   

• State Rep. Steve Toth also read to the children from a new BRAVE book entitled The Test of Lionhood, which teaches the true meaning of masculinity.
   

• Meanwhile, “Popsicles with Pride” was held across the street from the library in a local park. Local LGBT activists collected “inclusive” children’s books to donate to the county libraries.
   

• Images from the event show books like Bodies are Cool, which depicts hair growth during puberty, a “transgender” man with double mastectomy scars, different “transitioned” adults, and claims that you can define your own body. It also promotes gender confusion to preschool-aged children.
   

• “The Woodlands Pride is clearly out of touch with the values of TX Parents,” said Toth. “Values should be established and nurtured by parents and not librarians.”

Cleveland ISD Special Ed Teacher Charged with Murdering Wife

• A Texas teacher who allegedly shot and killed his wife was arrested and charged with murder following a five-hour stand-off with Houston police. Erin Anderson has the details. 
   

• James Paul Anderson, 37, is a special education teacher in Cleveland Independent School District.
   

• According to a report by Fox 26 Houston, Anderson headed the special education department at the district’s Santa Fe Middle School.
   

• The shooting occurred Sunday night at the couple’s home in Kingwood. Their 3-year-old son was inside the house at the time of the shooting, but Anderson released him to police unharmed.
   

• Anderson was booked into Harris County Jail and held on a $300,000 bond. The school district says they have placed him on administrative leave while it’s being investigated.
   

• In May, another Texas teacher was involved in a domestic dispute that turned violent. Mansfield ISD middle school teacher Thomas Boykin allegedly shot his children after arguing with his wife, a principal in the district. The children survived their injuries, and Boykin was charged with three felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
   

• Cleveland ISD, which serves the controversial Colony Ridge development north of Houston that is home to thousands of illegal aliens, also recently reported a string of drug overdoses inside its schools.

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