The Bible Challenged in Utah for Explicit Sexual Content

The Bible Challenged in Utah for Explicit Sexual Content

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah parent is challenging the arbitrary, expansive nature of the state’s legal redefinitions of “pornography,” by flagging the Bible in an official complaint for its numerous instances of sexual content.

Calling it “one of the most sex-ridden books around,” the parent asked their Davis County school district to review the Bible for “inappropriate content,” the Salt Lake City Tribune reported, without identifying the complainant.

“Incest, onanism, bestiality, prostitution, genital mutilation, fellatio, dildos, rape, and even infanticide,” the parent wrote on Dec. 11, 2022. “You’ll no doubt find that the Bible, under Utah Code Ann. § 76-10-1227, has ‘no serious values for minors’ because it’s pornographic by our new definition.”

As XBIZ reported, HB 374 — state legislation that cites Utah Code Ann. § 76-10-1227 — was passed in 2022 and bans books containing “pornographic or indecent” content from Utah schools and libraries.

A school district committee has been appointed to review the Bible, and although it should typically have issued a decision by early February, it has been delayed by a backlog. Utah parents have ramped up their challenges of books they consider “pornographic” or “obscene,” slowing down the review process.

“We don’t differentiate between one request and another,” a school district spokesperson told the Tribune. “We see that as the work that we do.”

The parent, the paper reported, “attached to their request an eight-page listing of passages from the Bible that they found to be offensive and worth reviewing,” including content involving sex, alcohol, nudity, rape and incest.

“Get this PORN out of our schools,” the complaint urged. “If the books that have been banned so far are any indication for way lesser offenses, this should be a slam dunk.”

According to state attorneys, who acted in tandem with right-wing lobby Utah Parents United, those assessing the suspected material do not have to follow the “taken as a whole” provision established in 1973 by the Miller Test, which differentiates between obscenity and First Amendment-protected pornography.

According to the new censorship rules, the challenged books also may not be left on library shelves during a review.

“If there is a scene involving any of those acts, it should be immediately removed,” the Salt Lake City Tribune reported.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Sex Work CEO Debuts Upgraded 'GPTease' AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Canvas in-chat editing feature to its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

UPDATED: Supreme Court Rules Against Adult Industry in Pivotal Texas AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday issued its decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, striking a blow against the online adult industry by ruling in support of Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

North Carolina Passes Extreme Bill Targeting Adult Sites

The North Carolina state legislature this week ratified a bill that would impose new regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

Supreme Court Ruling Due Friday in FSC v. Paxton AV Case

The U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Friday in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the adult industry trade association's challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181.

Ofcom: More Porn Providers Commit to Age Assurance Measures

A number of adult content providers operating in the U.K. have confirmed that they plan to introduce age checks in compliance with the Online Safety Act by the July 25 deadline, according to U.K. media regulator Ofcom.

Show More