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We are in the middle of Banned Books Week, Sept. 18-24. This year’s theme is “Books Unite Us. Censorship Divides Us.” Banned Books Week draws national attention to the harms of censorship, focusing on efforts across the country to remove or restrict access to books. Each year this week celebrates the freedom to read and the value of free and open access to information..

Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries.

Five of the Top 10 Challenged Books of 2021 have LGBTQIA+ content and most of the 10 are considered to be sexually explicit.

Banned Books Week brings together the entire book community – librarians, book-sellers, publishers, journalists, teachers, and readers of all types – in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.

LGBTQIA+ abbreviates lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual/aromantic/agender.

Source: annedbooksweek.org.