Multiple southern states have initiated the removal of books concerning transgender identity from public libraries’ youth and teen sections.
The Alabama Public Library Service Board of Directors approved a new rule that mandates the removal of content related to “transgender procedures, gender ideology, or the concept of more than two biological genders” from children’s and young adult sections in over 200 libraries statewide. The directive also prohibits all “sexually explicit or other material deemed inappropriate,” though no specific definition of sexually explicit content has been provided.
Alabama’s Rule and Timing
The vote occurred on Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day dedicated to honoring transgender individuals who have lost their lives to violence.
In Tennessee, Secretary of State Tre Hargett sent a letter to all 181 libraries in the Tennessee Regional Library System, demanding the removal of books that contain “gender ideology” or diversity, equity, and inclusion content from their children’s and young adult sections. He threatened to withhold funding from non-compliant libraries.
Book Ban Statistics
Hargett referenced Donald Trump’s executive orders that banned DEI practices in federal government and declared the existence of only two sexes, ignoring the scientific consensus on gender identity. These executive actions have faced legal challenges and have been partially blocked by a federal court.
During the 2024-2025 school year, PEN America reported 6,870 instances of book bans across 23 states and 87 public school districts, affecting 3,752 titles. Most of these banned works featured LGBTQ+ or racial themes. Notably, the most frequently banned books in the U.S. have included the acclaimed titles All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson and Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe.
This is really heavy to sit with—especially the timing of that Alabama vote. How are you personally staying hopeful or grounded while following this, and do you think there’s anything ordinary readers can realistically do beyond contacting local officials and voting?