Librarians, authors, and others are speaking out against a leading provider of school library software after it announced yesterday that it is considering an optional add-on that would help schools and librarians comply with new and pending legislation that requires parents be allowed to know of and control access to the books their children check out—which could out and endanger LGBTQ students.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) has signed the state’s discriminatory ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill into law, prohibiting discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grades and restricting it to an undefined age-appropriateness in higher grades. The damage the bill could cause goes beyond just that, however.
Hungary’s highest court has ruled that it was illegal for the county of Pest to fine a bookstore chain for selling a queer-inclusive children’s book without a warning label—but that doesn’t mean the country is free of anti-LGBTQ censorship.
A new report has found that more than 80 percent of the young people in the U.S.—59 million of them—live in states that have recently considered bills to censor discussions of race and LGBTQ people in schools or that would otherwise create hostile school climates, especially for LGBTQ youth.
Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill has passed the state Senate and will almost certainly be signed into law. Bills are moving forward in Idaho and Alabama that would make providing gender-affirming care to minors a felony. And these are only three of a growing number of states that have passed or are trying to pass such repressive laws. How can we address this onslaught against LGBTQ children and youth?
I launched my Mombian Database of LGBTQ Family Books, Media, and More because I’ve seen the power that representation can have, both in my own family and with other LGBTQ families and LGBTQ youth. That’s why I’m also proud to join PFLAG in their new #ReadWithLove campaign supporting the freedom to learn for all students. Here’s a roundup of some pieces I’ve written recently on the topic, and a bit more about the campaign.
A bill that just passed its final legislative committee hearing in Florida and now heads to the floor could soon squash all discussion of LGBTQ identities in schools—but Florida is not the only state pushing for such legislation. The attempt to remove content and discussion about LGBTQ and other marginalized identities from classrooms is a nationwide epidemic that must be stopped.
Many journalists, including myself, have recently reported on the increasing number of attempts to ban children’s and young adult books with LGBTQ characters or ones with other marginalized identities. In this column, however, I want to focus not on the bans themselves, but on the ways people have mobilized to stop them—and to ensure that students continue having access to books that reflect their identities and experiences and those of our diverse world.
A coalition of libraries, community groups, and children’s book creators in Rhode Island have responded to the spate of book bans around the country by creating a festival celebrating diverse children’s books and featuring two Newbery Honor authors. It will give local families a way to engage with diverse books, but also offers a model for other communities.
It’s time for another roundup of LGBTQ parenting news I haven’t covered elsewhere, with stories on family creation, politics, censorship—and penguins!
