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

Pineapple Support to Host Autism Spectrum Support Group

Pineapple Support is hosting a free online support group for performers and creators who are, or suspect they may be, on the autism spectrum.

ImLive Launches Revamped Member Loyalty Program

Cam platform ImLive has revamped its member loyalty program.

GoFundMe Set Up for Danny Ferretti's Medical Expenses

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up for Fangear founder Danny Ferretti, who requires extensive lung surgery.

Byborg Acquires Cuties AI

Byborg Enterprises has acquired adult artificial intelligence startup Cuties AI.

Irish Government Releases Report on Sex Work Decriminalization Legislation

The Irish government has released a report reviewing a 2017 law that decriminalized sex work across the country.

Texas Bill Would Require Age Verification for Online Sex Toy Sales

A new bill in the Texas state legislature would require online retailers to implement age verification of purchasers before selling “obscene devices” to anyone in that state.

New York Assemblyman Proposes Banning the Term 'Sex Work'

Republican New York Assembly Member Brian Maher has introduced a bill to prohibit the use of the term "sex work" in government documents.

Age Verification Watch: Michigan Joins the AV Club, Some Laws Just Make No Sense

This roundup provides an update on the latest news and developments on the age verification front as it impacts the adult industry.

Free Speech Groups Back SCOTUS Appeal of Georgia Strip Club Tax

Two civil liberties organizations filed an amicus brief Tuesday supporting a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal in a case involving whether a tax specifically aimed at adult entertainment establishments violates the First Amendment.

Creator Networking App 'Plaiir' Launches

Plaiir, a mobile networking app for creators, has officially launched.

Show More