With the start of the 2023 school year, book challenges and bans in both schools and public libraries rose to record highs. These bans are part of the anti LGBTQ+ sentiment as prevalent as cheap beer in so called red states. But attempts to impose the morality of those who see books as dangerous have taken place in purple and blue states, too
We can expect increased attempts to deprive children and adolescents of literature in the coming school year. Politicians, Christian Nationalist, the Hags for Liberty will be pulling all kind of dishonest stunts to whip up the culture wars to push cultural conservatives to the poles. Especially, since the right is out of policy ideas other than cut the taxes of the rich and take away free lunches for poor, hungry students.
Ignorant parents have sought to ban books concerned with LGBTQ+concerns non-binary adolescents face, gender identity issues, and especially books discussing the existence of more than two genders. They are also targeting books addressing racism and those deemed “anti-police.” What really revs up the anger, however, are books where the characters engage in sexual activity. Gasp! Teens having sex. Has Satan won?
If you believe no one but you should determine what books your child can and cannot read, please run for school board or join your local libraries board. We have to fight against censorship. Especially, politically driven censorship.
Conservatives, like Herr DeSantis, Claim they are not banning books (because they live in Bizzaro World). They (weakly) argue that you can purchase the same book from a book seller. Therefore, abandoning all hints at rationality, to them the book is not banned.
Book banners such as Ron DeSantis are, as usual, obfuscating. Not every child has the money to purchase books. Rural children may not be able to get to the bookstore. There are hundreds of obstacles for an adolescent for “buying the book from a store.” That’s why these books need to be in school libraries. Otherwise they are all but banned except to those with the resources and parents with open minds.
And yes a child or adolescent may consult books without parental guidance. Especially children who question their sexual identity and know bringing those identity questions at home will bring on a beating. Yes, that still happens often in contemporary America.
Books are safe means of inquiry. That’s why the right wants to rid themself of them. Newsflash: if your child is gay, they’re gay. If they’re not, a book isn’t going to “groom” them to become homosexuals.
Christ MAGA. It’s 2023. There is more knowledge available to individuals than anytime in our history. Use it.
Below are some of the most banned books of 2022 and 2023. Links lead to Amazon. These are not affiliate links. I do not make a cent off your purchase of one or more of these titles. Purchasing supports the brave women and men who wrote these real life books and encourages them to write additional books to help our teens.
The Complete Maus: A Survivor’s Tale (Pantheon Graphic Library)
All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto
George by Alex Gino
Flamer By Mike Curato
Tricks Ellen Hopkins
Sold Patricia McCormick
Push Sapphire
This Book Is Gay Juno Dawson
