New Sexually Explicit Materials Policy Passed in LCPS

On November 29th, the second draft of the sexually explicit materials policy was approved by the school board. The policy states that its purpose is to identify sexually explicit content, notify parents, let them review the materials, and open up the option of an alternative upon request.

Any visual, written, or illustrated description of nudity, sexual bestiality, sexual excitement, sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse is considered sexually explicit, according to section 2.2-2827 of the Code of Virginia.

Sexual conduct is defined in the revised policy as “actual or explicitly simulated acts of masturbation, homosexuality, sexual intercourse, or physical contact in an act of apparent sexual stimulation or gratification with a person’s clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks or, if such be female, breast.”

Although homosexuality is included under the definition of sexual conduct, policy 5055 states, “Nothing in this policy requires or permits for the censoring of books in its schools or the designation of instructional material as sexually explicit based solely upon the sexual orientation or gender identity of the characters contained therein.”

The policy states that anything the county may deem sexually explicit will need to be reviewed and parents must be notified before it is offered to their students.