Medford, Ore. — Tensions flared in the Oregon House of Representatives Monday as District 3 Representative Dwayne Yunker voiced his opposition to Senate Bill 1098, the Freedom to Read Act, in a highly provocative manner. Yunker took the unusual step of reading aloud a sexually explicit passage from the book The Haters during a House session, in an effort to make a point about what he sees as the dangers of Senate Bill 1098.
The bill, which passed the Senate education committee earlier that day, aims to prevent discrimination when selecting or retaining school library materials, textbooks, or instructional content. The goal is to ensure that no materials are banned or restricted simply because they feature or are created by individuals or groups from protected categories, such as Black or LGBTQ+ communities.
Yunker’s dramatic reading, which described a graphic sexual encounter, immediately drew sharp criticism from fellow lawmakers. Representative Kevin Mannix objected, calling the presentation “lascivious and obscene” and asking that it be stopped. “I think the Representative’s presentation is lascivious and obscene and I object to it,” Mannix said, clearly disturbed by Yunker’s choice of material.
In his remarks, Yunker argued that if explicit content is not suitable for the legislative chambers, then it should also be off-limits in public schools. “This is madness,” Yunker declared, suggesting that the same standards should apply to what students are exposed to in educational settings.
Senator Lew Frederick, a primary sponsor of SB 1098, dismissed Yunker’s approach as nothing more than a “political stunt,” insisting that it did not address the actual intent of the bill. Frederick explained that the bill is not about restricting book challenges but ensuring that educational materials are not censored or removed simply because they represent minority perspectives.
According to the summary provided by the Oregon Legislature, SB 1098 prohibits discrimination in the selection and retention of educational materials based on the inclusion of protected groups. The bill aims to protect books from being banned solely because they feature or are created by individuals from marginalized communities.
Mariana Garcia Medina, Senior Policy Associate for the ACLU of Oregon, emphasized that SB 1098 does not remove the process for challenging books in schools. “Schools will still be able to make those decisions, and those processes are there,” she said. “This is explicitly, simply put, regarding discrimination.”
Despite these clarifications, Yunker remained steadfast in his opposition. He voiced concern that the bill could be used to shield certain books from challenge on the basis of minority status, such as race or sexual orientation. “I think it’s just a way to say ‘hey, you can’t challenge these books because of someone’s skin color or their minority status,’” Yunker argued. “What does that have to do with the book?”
The debate over SB 1098 reflects broader national conversations about the role of education in shaping students’ views on race, gender, and sexuality. As Oregon lawmakers continue to grapple with the implications of the bill, the clash between protecting the freedom to read and ensuring appropriate content for young learners remains a contentious issue.
With the bill still moving through the legislative process, it is likely that the conversation surrounding it will continue to generate heated debate, both in the Capitol and across the state.