Proposed bans of LGBTQ-themed books in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

1996

Florida

In September 1996, a local chapter of the national Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) created a display in the West Hernando/Staffordene T. Foggia branch library. The branch is part of the Hernando County Florida Library System. Authors such as

Alexander the Great Alexander III of Macedon ( grc, wikt:Ἀλέξανδρος, Ἀλέξανδρος, Alexandros; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Maced ...

, Gertrude Stein, and

Walt Whitman Walter Whitman (; May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among t ...

were among the gay and lesbian authors that were included in the display. Books by the authors and red ribbons were displayed, along with a poster detailing the contributions of the authors to literature. The community quickly responded. Hernando county offices and the library system received phone calls and letters. Responses were both positive and negative. Assistant County Attorney Bill Buztrey informed county commissioners that removing the display could be considered a violation of the

First Amendment to the United States Constitution The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prevents the government from making laws that regulate an establishment of religion, or that prohibit the free exercise of religion, or abridge the freedom of speech, the ...

. This would leave the county open to a lawsuit. Laurel Solomon was the Library Services Director at that time. She issued a written statements that going forward, all displays would be "created and sponsored by the library itself... to promote library-related activities." County commissioners stated that this would protect them from "the potential of nonsanctioned radical groups such as Nazis" from creating their own displays. The

Florida Library Association The Florida Library Association (FLA) is a regional, non-profit organization that promotes professional discourse and opportunities for the library community in Florida. The FLA publishes the Florida Libraries Journal. The organization's missio ...

awarded Buztrey and two other county staff members with the Intellectual Freedom Award for invoking the First Amendment. Many community members felt the library was de facto censorship. Local columnist Jan Gildewell wrote that the policy "indicates to me that reception of intellectual freedom awards is no guarantee of continued freedom--or intellect."

2005

Alabama

Republican lawmaker

Gerald Allen Gerald Burton Allen (1885–1956) was a British scholar and a Church of England priest and bishop. Life Allen was born into a clerical family, being the eldest son of The Reverend T.K. Allen, sometime Vicar of Weyhill.Who was Who He was edu ...

proposed

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

House Bill 30 (HB30), which would have banned

public school Public school may refer to: * State school (known as a public school in many countries), a no-fee school, publicly funded and operated by the government * Public school (United Kingdom), certain elite fee-charging independent schools in England an ...

libraries from purchasing books by gay authors or with gay characters. The bill did not become law.

Arkansas

A proposed ban in

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the Osage ...

would have barred any representation of gay and lesbian people in schools, libraries, and state-funded universities. It passed the state's lower house, but a tie vote in the state senate's Education Committee failed to bring it to the state senate floor.
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Oklahoma

State Rep. Sally Kern, a Republican from

Oklahoma City Oklahoma City (), officially the City of Oklahoma City, and often shortened to OKC, is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, it ranks 20th among United States cities in population, a ...

, supported House Resolution 1039, which would have required Oklahoma libraries to "confine homosexually themed books and other age-inappropriate material to areas exclusively for adult access and distribution." The bill also required that no public funds be used in "the distribution of such materials to children." The bill passed in the house but not the senate.

Books challenged for LGBTQ content

Organized by year(s) challenged

2019

* ''Prince & Knight'', by Daniel Haack and illustrated by Steve Lewis

2018

* ''A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo'', by

Jill Twiss Jill Twiss is an American writer best known for her work on the HBO show '' Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.'' She is a senior writer on the show and she portrays its "Janice from Accounting" character. She authored a children's book called '' A ...

and illustrated by Gerald Kelly * ''This Day in June'', by Gayle E. Pitman and illustrated by Kristyna Litten

2017

* ''

Drama Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...

,'' written and illustrated by

Raina Telgemeier Raina Diane Telgemeier (/'ɹeɪna 'tɛlgə'maɪəɹ/, born May 26, 1977) is an American cartoonist. Her works include the autobiography, autobiographical webcomic ''Smile (comic book), Smile'', which was published as a full-color graphic novel i ...

* ''

Melissa Melissa is a female given name. The name comes from the Greek word μέλισσα (''mélissa''), "bee", which in turn comes from μέλι (''meli''), "honey". In Hittite, ''melit'' signifies "honey". ''Melissa'' also refers to the plant ''Me ...

,'' by

Alex Gino Alex Gino is an American children's book writer. Gino's debut book, ''George (novel), George'', was the winner of the 2016 Stonewall Book AwardALAnews. (January 12, 2016"2016 Stonewall Book Awards Announced."/ref> as well as the 2016 Lambda Lite ...

* ''

And Tango Makes Three ''And Tango Makes Three'' is a children's book written by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole which was published in 2005. The book tells the story of two male penguins, Roy and Silo, who create a family together. Wit ...

'', by Peter Parnell, Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole *

This One Summer ''This One Summer'' is a graphic novel written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki published by First Second Books in 2014. It is a coming of age story about two teenage friends, Rose and Windy, during a summer in Awago, a small be ...

, by

Mariko Tamaki Mariko Tamaki (born 1975) is a Canadian artist and writer. She is known for her graphic novels '' Skim'', ''Emiko Superstar,'' and ''This One Summer'', and for several prose works of fiction and non-fiction."Mariko Tamaki". CBC Radio, '' The Next ...

and illustrated by

Jillian Tamaki Jillian Tamaki (born April 17, 1980) is a Canadian American illustrator and comic artist known for her work in ''The New York Times'' and ''The New Yorker'' in addition to the graphic novels ''Boundless'', as well as ''Skim (comics), Skim'' and ' ...

2016

* ''

I Am Jazz ''I Am Jazz'' (announced as ''All That Jazz'') is an American reality television series on TLC (TV network), TLC about a transgender girl named Jazz Jennings. The series features Jazz and her family "dealing with typical teen drama through the ...

'', by Jessica Herthel and

Jazz Jennings Jazz Jennings (born October 6, 2000) is an American YouTube personality, spokesmodel, television personality, and LGBT rights activist. Jennings is one of the youngest publicly documented people to be identified as transgender. Jennings receive ...

* ''Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out'', by Susan Kuklin * '' Fun Home'', by

Alison Bechdel Alison Bechdel ( ; born September 10, 1960) is an American cartoonist. Originally known for the long-running comic strip ''Dykes to Watch Out For'', she came to critical and commercial success in 2006 with her graphic memoir ''Fun Home'', which ...

* ''Two Boys Kissing'', by

David Levithan David Levithan (born September 7, 1972) is an American young adult fiction author and editor."David Levithan". October 30, 2008. Gale Database. ''Contemporary Authors Online''. UWM Golda Meir Library, Milwaukee. July 1, 2009. He has written numer ...

* ''This One Summer'', written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki * ''Drama'', written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier

2015

* ''I Am Jazz'', by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings * ''Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out'', by Susan Kuklin * ''Two Boys Kissing'', by David Levithan

2014

* ''

'', Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell * ''The Perks of Being a Wallflower'', by Stephen Chbosky

2013

* ''The Perks of Being a Wallflower'', by Stephen Chbosky

2012

* '' The Kite Runner'', by Khaled Hosseini * ''And Tango Makes Three'', by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

2010

* ''And Tango Makes Three'', by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson * ''

Revolutionary Voices ''Revolutionary Voices: A Multicultural Queer Youth Anthology'', edited by Amy Sonnie, is an anthology created by and for radical queer youth, committed specifically to youth of color, young women, transgender and bisexual youth, (dis)abled youth ...

'', edited by Amy Sonnie

2009

* ''And Tango Makes Three'', by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson * ''The Perks of Being a Wallflower'', by Stephen Chbosky * ''My Sister's Keeper'', by Jodi Picoult

2008

* ''And Tango Makes Three'', by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell * ''The Perks of Being a Wallflower'', by Stephen Chbosky * ''Uncle Bobby's Wedding'', by Sarah S. Brannen

References

{{Reflist Gay book bans Book bans LGBT-related lists

1996

Florida

2005

Alabama

Arkansas

Oklahoma

Books challenged for LGBTQ content

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2010

2009

2008

See also

References