American Library Association claims 'censoring' sexually explicit books targets LGBTQ+ community

The American Library Association (ALA), the oldest and largest library nonprofit in the world, claimed that the "censorship" of sexually explicit books in children's libraries is discriminatory to the LGBTQ+ community.

"In looking at the titles of the most challenged books from last year, it’s obvious that the pressure groups are targeting books about LGBTQIA+ people and people of color," ALA President Emily Drabinski said in a statement Monday. "At ALA, we are fighting for the freedom to choose what you want to read. Shining a light on the harmful workings of these pressure groups is one of the actions we must take to protect our right to read."

The group, which sponsors National Library Week in the second week of April every year, identified the top 10 most "banned" books from children's libraries — all of which were removed for purportedly some sort of sexually explicit content. The association also pioneered the Unite Against Book Bans’ Book Résumé.

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According to ALA, the number of books "targeted for censorship" rose 65% in 2023 compared to the year before, making it the highest recorded number of bans, the group claims.

"Gender Queer," by Maia Kobabe, "All Boys Aren’t Blue," by George M. Johnson, "This Book is Gay," by Juno Dawson and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," by Stephen Chbosky were among the list of most-banned books in public libraries last year for having LGBTQIA+ and sexually explicit content.

"These are books that contain the ideas, the opinions, and the voices that censors want to silence – stories by and about LGBTQ+ persons and people of color," ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom director Deborah