(NEW YORK)–The University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) discontinued the use of a human sexuality textbook, Discovering Human Sexuality by Simon LeVay, Janice Baldwin and John Baldwin, effective Fall 2026. This decision comes after a student complained that the book exposed them to “pornography.”
“Universities should not be in the business of banning books,” says Jonathan Friedman, Sy Syms Managing Director of U.S. Free Expression Programs at PEN America. “This investigation and decision sets a dangerous precedent: If the University concedes to a student complaint about material they find offensive, what prohibits future complaints from leading to further censorship in other disciplines? Textbooks aren’t harmful–censorship is.”
An internal investigation found that the book “is designed to educate future health workers, counselors, therapists, and educators” and does not violate Nebraska statute 28-813, which prohibits the creation and distribution of “obscene material,” when used for educational purposes. However, the textbook was nonetheless banned, as the school determined the book contained “graphic images” in a chapter focused on atypical sexual behavior and recommended therapy options.
“The targeting of nonfiction and educational books in K-12 schools is increasingly creeping into higher education,” Friedman continued. “College students are mature enough to understand the difference between educational material and pornography, and this kind of meddling into course content by administrators is unacceptable. Censoring the use of certain textbooks and images will leave students ill prepared for real-life scenarios they will face in careers in medicine or healthcare. This is an outrageous threat to academic freedom and should be immediately reversed.”
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. A membership organization of writers and readers, our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Malka Margolies, [email protected], 718-530-3582