University Drops Controversial Textbook Following Investigation
The University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) has decided to remove a commonly used sexuality textbook from its curriculum after an investigation confirmed a student’s complaint about the presence of pornographic images.
The internal inquiry, conducted by the Chief Compliance Officer in May, revealed that UNK faculty and administrators were still promoting transgender content that seemed “out of tune with the current political environment.” A separate complaint from a student regarding explicit material in a human sexuality class was also validated during this investigation.
In response, UNK has engaged Baird Holm LLP for an independent review of the findings.
The investigation looked into several allegations made in late April. Among these were claims of a hostile environment for Christians and conservatives on campus, as well as whether UNK was still implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies that might contradict federal law. The investigation ultimately dismissed claims of a hostile climate but confirmed that graphic content was indeed part of the course material.
The textbook under scrutiny, Discovering Human Sexuality by Simon LeVay, Janice Baldwin, and John Baldwin, is now in its sixth edition and is widely used across the country. A student had reported, back in April, that the textbook contained pornographic images. It is specifically utilized for a course related to the Family Science B.S. degree and minor, as well as for those pursuing the Certified Family Life Educator credential.
While the investigation concluded that the textbook is intended for educational purposes and does not violate Nebraska law, UNK announced that it would cease using the book starting in the fall of 2026. The university acknowledged the concerns surrounding the textbook’s usage, noting that it includes graphic images—especially in discussions about atypical sexual behaviors and associated therapy options.
Moving forward, UNK stated it would ensure that any replacement textbook aligns with course and accreditation standards and will include clearer warnings about potentially graphic content in course descriptions.
Simon LeVay, one of the authors of the textbook, commented on the decision, opining that it might be difficult for UNK to find a suitable alternative that does not include depictions of sexual acts, likening it to a trigonometry book without triangles.
However, the course content isn’t the only aspect of sexuality and gender discussions on campus generating controversy. In April, an account on X, Libs of TikTok, highlighted a faculty meeting held by UNK’s Department of Graduate Studies and Academic Innovation focused on “Empowering Trans-spectrum Students,” which aimed to foster inclusivity for transgender students.
Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen called this initiative “nonsense” and “irrelevant,” threatening budget cuts if the university did not investigate such programs further.
A UNK spokesperson later announced that the controversial module had been removed. The May investigation highlighted that the event “should have been properly reviewed prior to distribution” and noted plans for a committee to oversee online faculty training modules moving forward.
Contrary to some claims, the investigation found that UNK does not currently have a Chief Diversity Officer and is not actively hiring for roles focused on DEI. It also rebutted allegations of a hostile environment for Christians or conservatives, stating that no evidence had been provided to support those claims.
At the time of the report, neither UNK nor LeVay had responded to requests for comment.
