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Proposed bans of LGBT-themed books in the United States
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Proposed bans of LGBT‑themed books in the United States are legislative and policy efforts—dating back to the mid‑1990s—to restrict or remove books featuring lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) content from public schools, libraries, and educational settings. These proposals have taken varied forms, from local display restrictions (e.g., a 1996 Florida library incident) to statewide bills banning procurement of books by gay authors or those with LGBT characters (as seen in Alabama, Arkansas, and Oklahoma in the 2000s). In recent years, such efforts intensified alongside broader movements to regulate curricula on sexual orientation and gender identity, most notably Florida's 2023 "Don't Say Gay" law. These proposals often appear as restrictions on age‑appropriate materials, with critics and advocates debating their impact on representation, diversity, and educators' discretion.
 | This article needs to be updated. (April 2023) |
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1996
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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, Gertrude Stein and Walt Whitman 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. 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 non-sanctioned radical groups such as Nazis" from creating their own displays.
The Florida Library Association 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.[clarification needed] 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."[1]
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2005
Alabama
Republican lawmaker Gerald Allen proposed Alabama House Bill 30 (HB30), which would have banned public school libraries from purchasing books by gay authors or with gay characters.[2] The bill did not become law.
Arkansas
A proposed ban in Arkansas 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.
Oklahoma
State Rep. Sally Kern, a Republican from Oklahoma City, 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.
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2023
Florida
The Parental Rights in Education law, alternatively and unofficially as the Don't Say Gay law. The law restricts education about gender identity and sexual orientation for K-3 students.[3]
Books challenged for LGBTQ content
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Organized by year(s) challenged. Also a restriction of specific books on sexual education for Preschool through 8th grade students, mostly about sexual orientation or gender identity.
2006
- King & King, by Stern Nijland and Linda De Haan
2007
- And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
- Open Minds to Equality: A Sourcebook of Learning Activities to Affirm Diversity and Promote Equity, by Nancy Schniedewind
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
2009
2010
- And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
- Revolutionary Voices, edited by Amy Sonnie
2012
- The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
- And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
2013
2014
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
2016
- I Am Jazz, by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings[6]
- Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out, by Susan Kuklin
- Fun Home, by Alison Bechdel
- Two Boys Kissing, by David Levithan
- This One Summer, written by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
- Drama, written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
2017
- Drama, written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier
- Melissa, by Alex Gino
- And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell, Justin Richardson and illustrated by Henry Cole
- This One Summer, by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki
2018
- A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, by Jill Twiss and illustrated by Gerald Kelly
- This Day in June, by Gayle E. Pitman and illustrated by Kristyna Litten
2019
- Prince & Knight, by Daniel Haack and illustrated by Steve Lewis
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References
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