New Anthology on Fighting Book Bans
BANNED TOGETHER: OUR FIGHT FOR READERS’ RIGHTS is coming out March 2025! This anthology is edited by Ashley Hope Perez, and it has already earned three starred reviews! Kirkus calls it “An empowering and critically timely blueprint for action.” Publishers Weekly writes, “[Serving as as a manifesto against book banning delivered by the authors whose livelihood is on the line, this collection movingly reminds readers of the power they have against censorship…. Powerful reading for a crucial moment.” And Booklist says this anthology “acts as a call to action and a form of protest, using the power of words to inspire hope and unity.”
Supreme Court Case involving Pride Puppy:
On January 17, 2025, the Supreme Court of the United States announced that it would hear the case of Mahmoud v. Taylor and rule on whether the Montgomery County public school district in Maryland has the right to use LGBTQ+ picture books in classrooms without notifying parents and giving them the option of opting their children out. The case involves nine LGBTQ picture books, including Pride Puppy.
PEN America has made a statement about the case, rejecting efforts to erase diverse families from classrooms.
Here are a few recent articles and blog posts with thoughtful commentary related to the case:
From Them/Us: SCOTUS to Hear Case From Parents Who Want to Opt Kids Out of Reading Books With LGBTQ+ Themes
From Mombian: Supreme Court to Hear Case on Whether Reading LGBTQ+ Books in School Requires a Parental Opt-Out Option
From Adventures in Censorship: Will Scotus Give a Constitutional Right to Ban Books?
From Randy Fair, author of Southern Gay Teacher: Teachers Have the Power to Open Students Eyes
Articles and interviews:
How You Can Help: Resources and Organizations
UNITE AGAINST BOOK BANS has tips for attending school board meetings, and a form to report book challenges and censorship in your community. They also have book resumes that you may find helpful in defending a specific book against a challenge.
WE NEED DIVERSE BOOKS has many resources to help you respond when books are challenged in your community.
Canada’s ANTI HATE NETWORK has a guide on what we can do to fight back at the local level, by preventing hate groups from taking over school boards in our communities.