North Carolina superintendent defends children’s Pride book featuring BDSM clothing because 'a child may see in their community'

A North Carolina school superintendent of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school district was grilled by state lawmakers in the legislature after being accused of breaking state law having to do with parents’ rights and the inclusion of sexually inappropriate material in school libraries. When he was asked about a book that contained men dressed in BDSM, he didn't take any issue with it and said that children may see it "in their community."

Dr. Rodney Trice, superintendent of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, was being grilled by North Carolina Republican Majority Leader Brenden Jones in a viral clip that has spread on X.

"Two men in BDSM outfits making out is currently available in your elementary schools. So I'm just asking, is this allowed or not?" Jones asked. "Dr. Trice, you're looking at the picture, you got guys in kink outfits."

Trice then said he was "not sure" what he was looking at.

When pressed about what the picture was depicting, he added, "I don't understand what the challenge is. I see a pride flag. I see community. I see two couples who appear to be in a loving relationship; they're not breaking any laws; they're not hurting anyone. That's certainly something that a child may see in their community."

Jones then added that Trice was on the "wrong side of history" for wanting to die on the hill of wanting to show the BDSM-clad male couple to children. The book in question is Grandad’s Pride, a book done in partnership with GLAAD. On Amazon, the book is rated as being for ages three and older. 

At the end of the nearly three-hour hearing with Trice, Jones said, “Compliance with state law is not voluntary. Going forward, it will not be without consequence," per The News and Observer.

”Due to your testimony today … I introduced legislation to ensure that districts that fail to comply with the Parents’ Bill of Rights face real and forceful consequences, including financial penalties they will not be able to ignore,” he said, “and for everyone to remember why we have it today, it will be called the CHCCS Act … because if a district chooses not to follow the law, it should not be expected to continue receiving taxpayer dollars without accountability."