Virginia school librarian describes students as 'sex workers'

A concerned middle school teacher in Loudoun County, Virginia couldn’t let the comments of fellow school employee Stefany Guido slide after reportedly hearing her say some students — the majority of which are 11-13 years old — could be considered "sex workers."

Guido, a librarian at Sterling Middle school, made the statement while defending a library book which said sex work is just like any other job, comparable to a store clerk, an architect, or a journalist. As sex workers, students could benefit from the book’s placement on library shelves, Guido said.

The anonymous teacher who reported the comments didn’t initially believe the book existed. She heard about it from the tweet of a concerned parent and decided to investigate. Before long, she discovered the book.

Titled "Seeing Gender; an Illustrated Guide to Identity and Expression," the book defends sex work as a respectable and upstanding career choice in a chapter titled "Sex Work is Not a Bad Term."

Prostitution is illegal in the state of Virginia under VA Title 18.2. And while the book might have asserted a perceived commonality between sex work and other professions, the law of the state does not.

The content of the book was enough to shock the teacher. But what alarmed her more was Guido's assertion the book should remain in the school library because it could be useful to students. As sex workers, Guido postured, the book would help them feel validated and less alienated.

"She started talking about how there’s kids who come to the library who do sex work, and this makes them feel validated," the teacher told police. "As a teacher, if you get an individual student coming to you because you’re abused, you have to go to the police immediately."

Guido further defended her position, saying the book doesn't contain pornographic materials, and as such, was fine to be read by children.

Loudoun County police could not be reached for comment on what action, if any, is being taken in the investigation of Guido. According to statements made by Deputy Jamie Holben to the Daily Wire, there’s concern that children in the school may be exposed to sex trafficking efforts in the neighboring region.