In 2022, book bans in United States schools and libraries are at their highest since the ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom started collecting data. Bans are happening around the country, in every state, and disproportionately affecting books by and about LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC people. What’s more, challenges are likely underreported, because librarians who are resisting them are facing unprecedented workplace retribution and in some cases physical danger.

Book Bans are on the ballot on November 8th, in every state and local election, up and down the ticket. State legislatures, local town councils, county leadership and school boards are being overrun with candidates supported by conservative activists looking to limit access to books and ideas that offer identity, empathy, awareness, and power to young people around the country.

We’re concerned, so today, we’re releasing a special episode of Fated Mates focused on book bans across the country. We interview three experts on what’s happening, who is most impacted, and how we can all help. Show notes are extensive, and we hope you’ll take a look at them.

Thank you to librarians, teachers, and kids and families who are standing up and speaking out. We are proud to stand with you.

Guests

Jarett Dapier, librarian, activist and author of Mr. Watson’s Chickens

Lily Freeman, activist and student in Central Bucks County, PA. Read Lily’s op-ed in the Philadelphia Inquirer and follow her instagram at ProjectUncensored.

Melissa Walker, political activist at The States Project, journalist, and Middle Grade and YA author of Violet on the Runway, Let’s Pretend We Never Met, Small Town Sinners and more.

Resources

The Youth Censorship Database at the National Coalition Against Censorship

Book Riot’s censorship coverage is excellent and updated almost daily. They have an excellent explainer for how to find and develop a local anti-censorship group

Intellectual Round Table Freedom Blog: an exhaustive list of links related to news about challenges, censorship, and banning incidents, developing issues, and controversies that is updated weekly

PEN America’s data on School Book Bans and Index of Educational Gag Orders

American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, full of resources and toolkits on challenges and how to combat them

What’s happening in Central Bucks County, PA is happening all over the country. Kids, families and educators are protesting loudly

Advocates for Inclusive Education, for more information on what’s happening on the ground in Bucks County, PA

A map from ALA Banned Books week at the University of Illinois Library, and another from Red Wine & Blue.

Teens around the country can get library cards from the Brooklyn Public Library. To apply for the card, teens can send a note to BooksUnbanned@bklynlibrary.org, or via the Library’s s teen-run Instagram account, @bklynfuture. The $50 fee normally associated with out-of-state cards will be waived

Learn more about the Book Ban Busters at Red Wine & Blue.

Ballotpedia is a resource for your local ballot and your local election maps

Vote.org, to check your voter registration, locate your voting place and more

How to Help

Educate yourself about the book challenge process in your school district: How it works, who sits on the book challenge committee, how those committee members are appointed.

If there are book bans and protests in your school district, attend local school board meetings and support students, teachers & librarians who are speaking up.

Tell your local public and school librarians they have your support. Write letters. Visit the library. Thank them for standing for intellectual freedom.

Research school board candidates in your district. Vote accordingly.

Consider running for something! Your school board and your state legislature need you! Consider this us telling you seven times! (We’ll phonebank for you!)

Vote to flip your state legislature blue. Rally your friends to join you in a Giving Circle at the States Project.

Donate to organizations (listed below) that support intellectual freedom and combat book bans.

Organizations to Support (and Volunteer with)

You can join PenAmerica, and your membership helps defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture.

Donate to the Freedom To Read Foundation and become a member. The Freedom To Read Foundation effectively conducts important first amendment legal work regarding book bans and censorship.

GLSEN, Creating a Better World for LGBTQ Students

Intellectual Freedom Endowment Fund at the American Library Association

The National Coalition Against Censorship, providing direct intervention for people and groups facing censorship

The States Project, helping to flip (or keep) state legislatures blue

The Trevor Project, supporting LGBTQ young people 24/7, all year round

We Believe in Education, a movement of parents and families fighting for students’ freedom to learn

The Most Banned Books of 2021

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for LGBTQIA+ content, and because it was considered to have sexually explicit images

Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content, profanity, and because it was considered to be sexually explicit

Out of Darkness by Ashley Hope Perez

Reasons: Banned, challenged, and restricted for depictions of abuse and because it was considered to be sexually explicit

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, violence, and because it was thought to promote an anti-police message and indoctrination of a social agenda

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Reasons: Banned and challenged for profanity, sexual references and use of a derogatory term

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Reasons: Banned and challenged because it was considered sexually explicit and degrading to women

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Reasons: Banned and challenged because it depicts child sexual abuse and was considered sexually explicit

This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson

Reasons: Banned, challenged, relocated, and restricted for providing sexual education and LGBTQIA+ content.

Beyond Magenta by Susan Kuklin

Reasons: Banned and challenged for LGBTQIA+ content and because it was considered to be sexually explicit.

Find more info and more books from this episode at fatedmates.net.

188. Farewell Tribute to Mark (1960-2022)