Federal Judge Orders Return of Gender and Race Books to Military Base School Libraries
A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Defense must return books on gender and race to five school libraries on military bases. The decision came after students at schools on military bases in Virginia, Kentucky, Italy, and Japan claimed their First Amendment rights were violated when nearly 600 books were removed from their schools. The students, who are children of active duty service members, filed a motion with the help of the ACLU to have the books returned.
Earlier this year, President Trump issued executive orders requiring federal agencies to remove materials promoting "gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology." Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth also issued memoranda prohibiting instruction on Critical Race Theory, DEI, or gender ideology, as well as banning official resources for celebrations like Black History Month and Women's History Month.
The plaintiffs alleged that DoDEA officials instructed teachers to remove books and cancel lesson plans and events that could violate the executive orders and guidance. The removed books covered topics such as sexual identity, racism, and LGBTQ pride. Some schools even canceled events like Black History Month celebrations and Holocaust Remembrance Day.
The students claimed they were punished for protesting the school's actions and became afraid to discuss race and gender in their classrooms. U.S. District Court Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles ruled in favor of the students, stating that the removals were not based on educational concerns but rather on improper partisan motivation. The judge ordered the DOD to immediately restore the removed books and materials.
The Department of Defense and DoDEA have not yet responded to requests for comment. The ruling is a victory for the students and their families, ensuring that diverse perspectives on gender and race can be explored in school libraries on military bases.