Books on LGBTQ+ Identity and Race Targeted for Bans Last Year

To no one's surprise, books with themes of LGBTQ+ identity and race accounted for the majority of books targeted with banning efforts last year.

As reported in a new report by the American Library Association's (ALA), "The State of America's Libraries," seven of the 10 most-challenged books had LGBTQ+ themes, and Maia Kobabe's "Gender Queer" topped the list for the third time since being published in 2019.

"In looking at the title of the most-challenged books from last year, it's obvious that the pressure groups are targeting books about LGBTQ+ people and people of color," said ALA president Emily Drabinski.

The censorship of books reportedly increased by 65 per cent in 2023, compared with the previous year, which was the highest increase recorded by the ALA.

"Each challenge, each demand to censor these books, is an attack on our freedom to read, our right to live the life we choose, and an attack on libraries as community institutions that reflect the rich diversity of our nation," said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom. "When we tolerate censorship, we risk losing all of this."

Additional books that made the most targeted list include "Sold" by Patricia McCormick, "Let's Talk About It" by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan, "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" by Jesse Andrews, "Tricks" by Ellen Hopkins, "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison, "Flamer" by Mike Curato, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky, and "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M Johnson.