LGBTQ+ book bans are hitting California schools. How teachers can fight back
1 year, 4 months ago

LGBTQ+ book bans are hitting California schools. How teachers can fight back

LA Times  

These three books with LGBTQ+ themes have been banned in some Florida counties. If you’re an educator who encounters LGBTQ+ book bans or attempts to ban at your school, here’s what you need to know. Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director at PEN America, said that book bans and attempts to ban overwhelmingly affect LGBTQ+ identities, characters, stories and history being delivered in public schools. Library and LGBTQ+ advocates recommend that teachers get up to speed on the broader fight by reading LGBTQ+ books, identifying challenged content, and learning about legislative attempts across the country to restrict school books. Beyond that, Rodarte said the L.A. public library system has multiple ways to help schools facing LGBTQ+ book bans, including: Educators can request virtual sets of LGBTQ+ ebooks that students can access in their classrooms.

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History of this topic

10 Banned Books Your Kids Should Be Reading
3 weeks, 6 days ago

10 Banned Books Your Kids Should Be Reading

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Author Samira Ahmed’s latest young-adult novel, “This Book Won’t Burn,” is nothing if not timely. Three years ago, Ahmed had a conversation with an English teacher about her own frequently banned book, “Internment.” “She taught in a small, rural, mostly white school district and wanted to bring ‘Internment’ into her lit circles in her high school classroom,” …

Trump’s promises to conservatives raise fears of more book bans in U.S.
1 month ago

Trump’s promises to conservatives raise fears of more book bans in U.S.

LA Times  

• Book bans are on the rise as conservative parental rights groups fight what they believe is ‘wokeness’ in classrooms. We’re just getting back to commonsense America.” Trump’s threat to deny federal funding to schools that acknowledge transgender identities could affect curricula and the kinds of books school libraries stock. During his rally at Madison Square Garden in October, Trump …

Banned Books Week starts with mixed messages as reports show challenges both up and down
3 months ago

Banned Books Week starts with mixed messages as reports show challenges both up and down

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Two reports released Monday provide a mixed but compelling outlook on the wave of book removals and challenges as the annual Banned Books Week begins for schools, stores and libraries nationwide. “And we expect that to continue through the end of the year.” The library association defines a “challenge” as a “formal, written complaint filed with a …

World's most hated book is pulled from a major Australian city's library shelves for the first time - and critics want it banned everywhere
3 months, 3 weeks ago

World's most hated book is pulled from a major Australian city's library shelves for the first time - and critics want it banned everywhere

Daily Mail  

EXCLUSIVE A controversial book which has been slammed worldwide for exposing children to 'gay porn' has been ripped from an Australian city's library shelves for the first time. Gender Queer, by Maia Kobabe, is the most banned book in America, with critics claiming its graphic depictions of teenage sex are targeted at kids Maia Kobabe, a non-binary author from California …

Federal judges allow Iowa book ban to take effect this school year
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Federal judges allow Iowa book ban to take effect this school year

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court …

Federal judges allow Iowa book ban to take effect this school year
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Federal judges allow Iowa book ban to take effect this school year

Associated Press  

DES MOINES, Iowa — Iowa can enforce a book ban this school year following a Friday ruling by a federal appeals court. The U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a district judge’s earlier decision that temporarily halted key parts of the law, including a ban on books depicting sex acts in school libraries and classrooms. Reynolds said in a …

A San Francisco store is shipping LGBTQ+ books to places where they are banned
5 months, 3 weeks ago

A San Francisco store is shipping LGBTQ+ books to places where they are banned

Associated Press  

SAN FRANCISCO — In an increasingly divisive political sphere, Becka Robbins focuses on what she knows best — books. Among those topping banned lists have been Maia Kobabe’s “Gender Queer,” George Johnson’s “All Boys Aren’t Blue” and Nobel laureate Toni Morrison’s “The Bluest Eye.” An LGBTQ+ related book is seen on display at Fabulosa Books, in the Castro District of …

Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects Education Department’s attempt to ban books
6 months, 1 week ago

Oklahoma Supreme Court rejects Education Department’s attempt to ban books

Raw Story  

This article first appeared on Oklahoma Watch and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. The state’s high court in a unanimous decision said Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters and the state Department of Education overstepped their authority in trying to force Edmond schools to ban two novels. Jeff Bardach, a spokesman for Edmond Public Schools, said the …

Florida school board bans book about book bannings
6 months, 1 week ago

Florida school board bans book about book bannings

Raw Story  

A book about book bannings has itself been banned by a school board in Florida at the behest of right-wing Moms for Liberty activists. The Guardian reports that "Ban This Book" by author Alan Gratz has been removed from libraries in Florida's Indian River county school district after the school board opted to ban it in a 3-to-2 vote last …

What’s a book ban anyway? Depends on who you ask
6 months, 2 weeks ago

What’s a book ban anyway? Depends on who you ask

NPR  

What’s a book ban anyway? Meanwhile, many people fighting to get books removed from school libraries are not fans of the term book ban. Here are a handful of definitions from people entrenched in the issue: Sponsor Message Kasey Meehan, program director of PEN America’s Freedom to Read : “We define a book ban as any action taken against a …

How best to stop books being banned? Ban such bans.
6 months, 4 weeks ago

How best to stop books being banned? Ban such bans.

Live Mint  

While far-right groups—in mostly Republican-led states—wage a crusade to ban thousands of books in schools and public libraries across the country, Minnesota is pushing back. Where previous attempts typically involved a parent or small group of parents challenging a single book title, now groups with clear political agendas are filing coordinated challenges against scores of books, all under the guise …

Minnesota and other Democratic-led states lead pushback on censorship. They’re banning the book ban
8 months ago

Minnesota and other Democratic-led states lead pushback on censorship. They’re banning the book ban

Associated Press  

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A movement to ban book bans is gaining steam in Minnesota and several other states, in contrast to the trend playing out in more conservative states where book challenges have soared to their highest levels in decades. The move to quash book bans is welcome to people like Shae Ross, a queer and out Minnesota high …

Maia Kobabe’s ‘Gender Queer’ tops list of most criticized library books for third straight year
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Maia Kobabe’s ‘Gender Queer’ tops list of most criticized library books for third straight year

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Maia Kobabe’s graphic memoir “Gender Queer” continues its troubled run as the country’s most controversial book, topping the American Library Association’s “challenged books” list for a third straight year. “A few advocacy groups have made ‘Gender Queer’ a lightning rod,” says Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. ”People are trying to shut down …

Censorship efforts at libraries continued to soar in 2023, according to a new report
9 months, 1 week ago

Censorship efforts at libraries continued to soar in 2023, according to a new report

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Bannings and attempted bannings of books soared again in the U.S. last year, continuing to set record highs, according to a new report from the American Library Association. On Thursday, the ALA announced that 4,240 works in school and public libraries had been targeted in 2023, a substantial hike from the then-record 2,571 books in 2022 and …

Opinion: Need a good book? Try one your 9th-grader isn't allowed to read
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Opinion: Need a good book? Try one your 9th-grader isn't allowed to read

LA Times  

“Gender Queer” and other books banned in schools in some counties in Florida. I have discovered many wonderful books, mostly in the young adult category, by reading news stories about what’s being banned in public schools these days: “Gender Queer,” the riveting, upsetting graphic novel about the nonbinary author’s journey of self-discovery; “Dear Martin,” in which a Black teenager who …

DeSantis allies start to back off book bans amid national outrage: 'May have gone too far'
11 months ago

DeSantis allies start to back off book bans amid national outrage: 'May have gone too far'

Raw Story  

Florida Republicans might be backing off support for Gov. Florida has become infamous as the epicenter of book censorship activism in schools, even as DeSantis has insisted the whole thing is a liberal "hoax" to make his state look bad. But the state's Republican legislature is starting to worry the action has gone too far, reported Politico, with lawmakers considering …

From Iowa to Florida, national lawsuits against local book bans begin to gain traction
11 months, 1 week ago

From Iowa to Florida, national lawsuits against local book bans begin to gain traction

LA Times  

Lawsuits challenging book bans in Florida and Iowa are proving to play a key role in the growing fight for student’s access to literature. In May, Dan Novack, Penguin Random House vice president and associate general counsel, told The Times the publishing house was suing to stop “one of the most unsubtle attempts at viewpoint discrimination” they’d ever seen. Today’s …

Judge blocks most of an Iowa law banning some school library books and discussion of LGBTQ+ issues
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Judge blocks most of an Iowa law banning some school library books and discussion of LGBTQ+ issues

Associated Press  

DES MOINES, Iowa — A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked key parts of an Iowa law that bans some books from school libraries and forbids teachers from raising LGBTQ+ issues. Judge Stephen Locher’s preliminary injunction halts enforcement of the law, which was set to take effect Jan. 1 but already had resulted in the removal of hundreds of books …

A new report shows how corrosive book banning is. Novelist Lauren Groff is fighting back
1 year ago

A new report shows how corrosive book banning is. Novelist Lauren Groff is fighting back

LA Times  

PEN America’s latest report on book bans is glaring, but “Matrix” author Lauren Groff is on the front lines and opening a banned-book shop in Florida. As a new report from PEN America aggregates two years of data on book bans to show how they stigmatize specific authors, Lauren Groff — author of “Florida” and the recent novel “The Vaster …

To fight so-called book bans, some states are threatening to withhold funding
1 year ago

To fight so-called book bans, some states are threatening to withhold funding

NPR  

To fight so-called book bans, some states are threatening to withhold funding Enlarge this image toggle caption Ted Shaffrey/AP Ted Shaffrey/AP On Jan. 1, Illinois' new law meant to slow the rapid rise of books being challenged or pulled from library shelves goes into effect. The Illinois law states that in order to be eligible for state grants, a library …

Book bans: Will the culture wars come for Britain’s books?
1 year ago

Book bans: Will the culture wars come for Britain’s books?

The Independent  

Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about …

LGBTQ+ rights group sues over Iowa law banning school library books, gender identity discussion
1 year ago

LGBTQ+ rights group sues over Iowa law banning school library books, gender identity discussion

Associated Press  

Several families are suing to stop Iowa’s new law that bans books from school libraries, forbids teachers from raising LGBTQ+ issues and forces educators in some cases to out the gender identity of students to their parents. The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa and Lambda Legal announced the federal lawsuit Tuesday, saying the law passed earlier this year by …

Missouri library bans ‘porn star book’ – but only after waitlist runs out
1 year, 1 month ago

Missouri library bans ‘porn star book’ – but only after waitlist runs out

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. An internal review committee determined that the controversial …

Republicans Use 'Decency' Law To Ban Books
1 year, 1 month ago

Republicans Use 'Decency' Law To Ban Books

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING At the November meeting of the Rutherford County, Tennessee, steering committee, Chairman Craig Harris asked the county’s public library board about their feelings on books that conservative members of the community had deemed indecent — and potentially in violation of a new city ordinance promoting “decency.” “Do you think ‘Let’s Talk About It’ should have been removed?” …

Inside a Texas town’s chilling effort to ban LGBT+ books
1 year, 1 month ago

Inside a Texas town’s chilling effort to ban LGBT+ books

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Krause’s letter asked school districts to …

Huntington Beach to use parent review board to vet children’s books for public library, City Council decrees
1 year, 2 months ago

Huntington Beach to use parent review board to vet children’s books for public library, City Council decrees

LA Times  

Huntington Beach residents protest and hold signs about the proposal to screen children’s books at the Huntington Beach Public Library during Tuesday night’s City Council meeting. Van Der Mark, who first brought forth the idea in June, has been seeking more oversight of children’s books for years, even before she was elected to the City Council last fall. Huntington Beach …

Children and parents begin uphill fightback against book bans in Florida
1 year, 2 months ago

Children and parents begin uphill fightback against book bans in Florida

CNN  

Central Florida CNN — Now that books are being banned and disappearing from school libraries, students and parents are showing up to school board meetings in Florida to argue for access to books that take on difficult subjects. “‘Wait,’ Josie said, trying to roll away beneath him, but he clamped his hand over her mouth and drove harder and harder …

Column: Not satisfied with schools, book banners are now targeting adults’ right to read
1 year, 2 months ago

Column: Not satisfied with schools, book banners are now targeting adults’ right to read

LA Times  

Students and other citizens at a recent school board meeting in Orlando, Fla., protest efforts by the board and state authorities to remove books from school library shelves and suppress education on race and LGBTQ+ issues. “This year, to date, it’s 49%.” We’re seeing groups go to school or library board meetings to demand the removal of multiple titles all …

California governor signs law barring schoolbook bans based on racial, gender teachings
1 year, 2 months ago

California governor signs law barring schoolbook bans based on racial, gender teachings

Associated Press  

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Monday to ban school boards from rejecting textbooks based on their teachings about the contributions of people from different racial backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities. “With this new law, we’re cementing California’s role as the true freedom state: a place where families — not political fanatics — have the …

Newsom bars school book bans: LGBTQ+ textbook bill signed into law amid growing culture wars
1 year, 2 months ago

Newsom bars school book bans: LGBTQ+ textbook bill signed into law amid growing culture wars

LA Times  

Gia Rueda speaks out against opposition to LGBTQ+ education materials at a school board meeting on July 18 in Temecula. It comes as school boards in California’s Republican-leaning districts have approved policies reflective of national GOP culture wars regarding “parental rights” over issues such as gender identity and racial history. “We have school districts large and small banning books, banning …

How school book bans exploded — with front lines in Southern California too
1 year, 3 months ago

How school book bans exploded — with front lines in Southern California too

LA Times  

Good morning, and welcome to the L.A. Times Book Club newsletter. “As a librarian, having worked in the city for 32 years and since I’ve retired, I have never, not once, had anyone come up to me and say, ‘You know what, my child’s life was ruined because of a book they checked out of the library.’ It didn’t start …

Challenges to library books continue at record pace in 2023, American Library Association reports
1 year, 3 months ago

Challenges to library books continue at record pace in 2023, American Library Association reports

Associated Press  

NEW YORK — Book bans and attempted bans continue to hit record highs, according to the American Library Association. Through the first eight months of 2023, the ALA tracked 695 challenges to library materials and services, compared to 681 during the same time period last year, and a 20% jump in the number of “unique titles” involved to 1,915. “The …

California lawmakers OK bill to fine school boards that ban books over race, LGBTQ+ issues
1 year, 3 months ago

California lawmakers OK bill to fine school boards that ban books over race, LGBTQ+ issues

LA Times  

Members of the public spoke for and against a policy to limit LGBTQ+ teachings during a July meeting of the Temecula Valley Unified School District board. The California Legislature approved a bill on Thursday that would allow fines against school boards that ban textbooks based on their inclusion of LGBTQ+ and race lessons — an attempt to halt escalating culture …

Books banned in other states fuel Vermont lieutenant governor’s reading tour
1 year, 4 months ago

Books banned in other states fuel Vermont lieutenant governor’s reading tour

Associated Press  

WATERBURY, Vt. — On a recent Sunday afternoon, Vermont’s lieutenant governor was at a local library, reading a book about two male penguins to a crowd of nearly two dozen. “Students, teachers, and curious minds should be able to access materials that spark critical thinking, cover difficult topics, and appeal to diverse interests without fear of government interference.” While Vermont …

Barack Obama speaks against 'book ban' in USA: However, the list includes books that promote explicit sexual content targeted at children
1 year, 5 months ago

Barack Obama speaks against 'book ban' in USA: However, the list includes books that promote explicit sexual content targeted at children

Op India  

On 16th July, former US President Barack Obama came in support of the librarians against the banned books. And librarians are on the front lines, fighting every day to make the widest possible range of viewpoints, opinions, and… pic.twitter.com/txhCTfH3Gh — Barack Obama July 17, 2023 Criticising the call for bans on books, he said, “Today, some of the books that …

Librarians train to defend intellectual freedom and fight book bans at Chicago conference
1 year, 6 months ago

Librarians train to defend intellectual freedom and fight book bans at Chicago conference

Associated Press  

CHICAGO — School librarian Jamie Gregory has been called a “pedophile” and “groomer,” bombarded with private messages threatening harm, accused of distributing pornography in schools, and had her personal address posted on social media. I’m not going to let that happen,” Gregory said Saturday to a room packed full of about 100 fellow librarians at a training session on fighting …

California doubles down on inclusive education as red states ban books in classrooms
1 year, 6 months ago

California doubles down on inclusive education as red states ban books in classrooms

LA Times  

of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, foreground, and Gov. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and legislators, meeting for the first time Wednesday as part of a new task force, called on textbook publishers to commit to producing materials that are “free from discrimination and inclusive of the diverse narratives that reflect the student body of California.” Members of the task force, …

Commentary: Are book bans unconstitutional? They are certainly political
1 year, 6 months ago

Commentary: Are book bans unconstitutional? They are certainly political

LA Times  

A student holds a sign that reads “Stop Book Banning” at a rally at a Florida school district meeting. of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond early this month jointly issued a five-page warning to California’s school superintendents reminding them that the U.S. Constitution restricts the removal of books from libraries and curriculum. They also noted that the state education code requires …

Texas lawmakers set new standards to ban books from schools for sexual content
1 year, 7 months ago

Texas lawmakers set new standards to ban books from schools for sexual content

Associated Press  

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas would set new standards and ratings for sexually explicit material in order to ban books from public and charter school libraries, under a bill given final passage by the state Senate late Tuesday night and sent to Republican Gov. The bill passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature defines “sexually explicit material” as anything that includes descriptions, illustrations …

Bill to restrict youth access to ‘sexually explicit’ public library books advances in Louisiana
1 year, 7 months ago

Bill to restrict youth access to ‘sexually explicit’ public library books advances in Louisiana

Associated Press  

— Activists in Louisiana are voicing concerns over a bill advancing through the GOP-controlled Legislature to restrict children and teens’ access to public library books deemed “sexually explicit,” saying the proposal could be used to target LGBTQ+ content. Louisiana’ s bill, which advanced out of a legislative committee Tuesday and is headed to the full House for debate and possible …

'Acts of harassment': Education Dept warns book bans are violating kids' civil rights
1 year, 7 months ago

'Acts of harassment': Education Dept warns book bans are violating kids' civil rights

Raw Story  

The Department of Education is warning that a Georgia school district's ban of books related to race and sexual orientation creates a "hostile environment" for students that could constitute a violation of federal civil rights law, reportedThe Washington Post on Monday. "The Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights released its findings in a letter Friday wrapping up its investigation into …

Major publisher sues over DeSantis-sanctioned book bans
1 year, 7 months ago

Major publisher sues over DeSantis-sanctioned book bans

Raw Story  

A writers group and major publisher have sued a Florida school district over its Ron DeSantis-sanctioned removal of books about race and LGBTQ+ identities. PEN America and Penguin Random House filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the Escambia County School District and its school board alleging a violation of their First Amendment rights for removing 10 books from library shelves, …

The 15 most banned books in America this school year
1 year, 7 months ago

The 15 most banned books in America this school year

LA Times  

The recent surge in book bans in U.S. school districts and libraries is the latest front in a long-running battle that has swept up even literary masterpieces of John Steinbeck, J.D. Also removed were nine books from James Patterson’s “Maximum Ride” series and two books by Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison, among other titles. Nevertheless, the book was challenged as …

Indiana bill could make book banning in schools easier
1 year, 7 months ago

Indiana bill could make book banning in schools easier

Associated Press  

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana lawmakers on Thursday gave their final approval to a bill that could make it easier to ban books from public school libraries. “That’s how I would describe educational, by the way,” GOP Rep. Martin Carbaugh said before the House voted 70-27 in favor of it. Republican state Rep. Becky Cash insisted the bill “protects the schools.” “I …

How to get involved in the fight against book bans
1 year, 7 months ago

How to get involved in the fight against book bans

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “When we experience book bans, we are doing …

These authors’ books are some of the most challenged in the US. They’re speaking out
1 year, 7 months ago

These authors’ books are some of the most challenged in the US. They’re speaking out

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Well, they do matter.” To Kobabe, learning that …

Biden lambasts book ban attempts in remarks to teachers: ‘Empty shelves don’t help kids learn very much’
1 year, 7 months ago

Biden lambasts book ban attempts in remarks to teachers: ‘Empty shelves don’t help kids learn very much’

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. And I’ve never met a parent who wants a politician dictating what their kid …

The book ban surge gripping America’s schools and libraries
1 year, 7 months ago

The book ban surge gripping America’s schools and libraries

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. PEN has described the measures collectively as part …

Book bans in US schools increased by 28 per cent in the first half of the school year, says new report
1 year, 7 months ago

Book bans in US schools increased by 28 per cent in the first half of the school year, says new report

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The number of book bans grew by 28 …

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