Queer and BIPOC books are amongst the most banned. But why, despite this surge, are queer books selling in record-high numbers? This may be evidence of the evolving general views towards the LGBTQ+ community and more diverse narratives.

The American Library Association (ALA) has been documenting book bans for over two decades, seeing how book challenges affect communities.

“These numbers—and the list of the Top 13 Most Challenged Books of 2022—are evidence of a growing, well-organized, political movement whose goals include removing books addressing race, history, gender identity, sexuality, and reproductive health from America’s public libraries and school libraries that do not meet their approval. Using social media and other channels, these groups distribute booklists to their local chapters and individual adherents who then utilize the lists to initiate a mass challenge that can empty the shelves of a library,”

Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, to Advocate Channel via email.

Last year, there was a 138% increase in comparison to 2021, with the most-challenged book being Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe. Other notable variation from previous years was that books are not being challenged by individual parents discovering their child is reading a book they disagree with, but are being targeted in groups and by groups.

On the subject of Gender Queer, multiple schools in Maine have retained the book in their libraries after being challenged by worried parents who were notified of graphic sexual content in it. Here’s a summary of how it all went:

“Every member of the school boards read the book. With the singular exception, every board decided to keep the book in the collection because even if they themselves did not enjoy the story nor see themselves picking it up on their own, by reading the book in its entirety, they developed an understanding of its purpose and were thus not swayed by a few cherry picked images that book banners have been using as ‘proof’ of obscenity.”

(Jensen, 2022)

“Hide the Pride”

A conservative Catholic group started a campaign last year encouraging people to check out children’s and teen queer books in libraries in order to “prevent kids from being exposed to smut from their local public library by checking out these nasty books and getting them off of displays.”

Here are a couple of tips for libraries to fight the “Hide the Pride” campaign:

“Consider incorporating more permanent aspects of your display. Put up posters or signs with the LGBTQ audiobooks and ebooks available in your collection, with QR codes to check them out. You can also place books in front of a sign with the cover of that book, including a QR code to place a hold on it. That way, it’s still on display even when checked out.
You can also include pamphlets with a list of some of the LGBTQ books available in the collection. You may want to consider only putting out a few at a time, so no one can take the whole batch at once.”

(Ellis, 2023)

This campaign also takes form with people hiding (or stealing) books from Pride displays in bookstores, and even personally harassing teachers and librarians while accusing them of “grooming” children. This has forced some public libraries to “compromise” by moving Pride displays from being front and center.

“We understand and acknowledge this decision will leave those who had hoped to see the display(s) removed from the premises dissatisfied, and it will leave those who would like the [PFLAG] exhibit to remain on the first floor equally dissatisfied. This is our attempt to find a balance between viewpoints so that all may be seen, heard, and included at the Library, which provides service to the entire community.”

Tyler Public Library Director explained to Book Riot.

These hateful movements are being incited by groups like MassResistance and IBLP (The Institute in Basic Life Principles), and encouraged by legislation like the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and other politicians basing their campaigns with the queer community as an enemy.

What can you do as an individual against these campaigns? Show your support thanking people putting up these displays. Either in person, via phone call or email and, if possible, attend board meetings and make your voice heard.

Remember, there’s more people supporting the Pride displays, the other side is just louder.