Keeping Up and Checking In

Book censorship is on the rise in the United States, often driven by small but vocal groups who claim to be protecting children, preserving morality, or upholding parental rights. While these arguments may sound reasonable at first, they often mask deeper efforts to restrict access to diverse perspectives and erase marginalized voices from public education and library systems.

Looking for a fun, impactful way to build community and stand up for the right to read? Host a Book Exchange Event! Think of it as part neighborhood gathering, part advocacy party, part literary celebration designed to get people talking, reading, and taking action against censorship.

On June 26, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor that will have far-reaching implications for all public school students and their families – especially those with ties to the LGBTQ+ community, and the future of public education in this country. At the heart of the case was the question of whether public schools were constitutionally required to honor parental opt-out requests for curriculum designed to promote inclusivity and understanding among K-5 students when their religious beliefs are in conflict with these anti-bullying initiatives. In a 6-3 ruling, the Court sided with the parents and vacated the lower court’s injunction, upholding what Justice Sotomayor, in her powerful dissent, called a "selective silencing" of queer identities under the guise of neutrality.

As we approach the 2026 legislative session, advocates for intellectual freedom must be prepared to counter growing threats to the right to read. In recent years, book bans, vague state mandates, and political pressure have intensified, stripping students, educators, and communities of access to diverse and inclusive books. Now more than ever, it is essential to be organized, strategic, and data-driven in our advocacy.

In the growing fight against book censorship, one of the most effective ways to advocate for intellectual freedom is to speak directly to your local school board. These public meetings offer a critical opportunity to remind decision-makers of their responsibility to uphold the First Amendment, follow proper policies, and ensure that all students have access to a deep variety of literature curated by trained professionals.

You’re at a dinner party, scrolling through the news together, or watching your kids play at the park and someone brings up “that one book” being pulled from school libraries. Maybe they say it’s inappropriate. Maybe they cheer the removal. Or maybe they just shrug and ask, “What’s the big deal?”

In recent years, Florida has witnessed a surge in debates surrounding parental rights and public access to information, particularly within its public library systems. While parental involvement in their children’s education should be encouraged, the actions of a vocal minority are increasingly influencing public library policies, leading to concerns about censorship and the erosion of intellectual freedom.

In today’s climate, it’s become increasingly common to see banned books make headlines. A growing number of titles are being pulled from school and public library shelves, challenged in classrooms, and targeted in political debates. And often, in response to this harmful trend, well-meaning allies and supporters will tell authors, "Congratulations! You’ve been banned. That means your book is important."

Across the United States, a fundamental shift is underway in how school library collections are curated, and not for the better. Traditionally, decisions about which books belong in a school library were made locally, guided by the expertise of professional educators and librarians in collaboration with the communities they serve. But today, state governments are asserting unprecedented control, bypassing local input to impose top-down mandates about what students are allowed, or forbidden, to read.

In the past few years, censorship in the United States has moved beyond book bans and challenges. Today, we are witnessing a much broader campaign of intimidation. Government bodies at every level are adopting scare tactics to pressure schools, libraries, and educators into preemptive self-censorship. The result is a chilling effect that stifles free expression, narrows the scope of ideas accessible to the public, and punishes those who resist.