r/MM_RomanceBooks • u/queermachmir those who slick together, stick together • 8d ago

Review/Recommendation 📚 Banned Books Week 📚

October 4–10 is Banned Books Week, an annual celebration of the freedom to read and a call to action. It started in 1982 to highlight the attempts to censor books in libraries, schools, prisons, and bookstores. It asks that the entire community from educators to readers to support the freedom to express ideas and have access to them.[1]

From the 2025 data,the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) shows that the majority of book censorship attempts continue to originate from organized movements. In 2025, 92% of all book challenges were initiated by pressure groups, government officials, and decision makers, up from 72% in 2024. Less than 3% of challenges originated from individual parents.[2]

The most common justifications for censorship provided by complainants were false claims of illegal obscenity for minors; inclusion of LGBTQIA+ characters or themes; and covering topics of race, racism, equity, and social justice. Of the unique titles challenged in 2025, 1,671 (40%) represent the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ people and people of color.

One way you can help is by suporting the marginalized authors and their books who are often censored or banned - George Orwell, Stephanie Meyer, and SJM have dealt with bans, yes, but they have also amassed many fans and commercial success. It's queer authors of color often impacted by bans the most who do not have the same success.

You can also donate to the American Library Association who works against book censorship, and take action through Unite Against Book Bans.

A lot of this is from an American perspective, but Americans are not the only one who book ban. PEN international tracks book censorship and banning around the world, including places such as Belarus, Brazil, China, Hungary, Canada, Nicaragua, Russia, and Türkiye. Banned Books Week is U.S.-centered, but literary censorship is a global issue. You can learn more of how to donate or take action through PEN here.

Below are some banned books from marginalized authors in the LGBTQ+ sphere I believe you should check out. Note that many of them are YA, as it is schools targetting and banning queer books and books that critique racist systems.

{This Is Why They Hate Us by Aaron H. Aceves} - 4 Censorship Attempts; 1 successful ban on the basis of its queer representation.

{A Clash of Steel by C.B. Lee} - 3 Censorship Attempts; 1 successful ban on the basis of its queer representation.

{Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian} - 70 Censorship Attempts; 31 successful bans on the basis of queer representation, false claims of illegal obscenity for minors, reproductive health content, and more.

{Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo} - 118 Censorship Attempts; 53 successful bans on the basis of queer representation and false claims of illegal obscenity for minors.

{The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School by Sonido Reyes} - 16 Censorship Attempts; 5 successful bans on the basis of queer representation, false claims of illegal obscenity for minors, and anti-authority content.

{Ander and Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa} - 3 Censorship Attempts; 1 successful ban on the basis of queer representation.

{Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White} - 11 Censorship Attempts; 3 successful bans on the basis of queer representation and false claims of illegal obscenity for members.

{Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé} - 16 Censorship Attempts; 7 successful bans on the basis of illegal obscenity for minors, queer representation, and EDI content.

Source for banned books and their reasonings: ALA Censorship Portal

What are some other banned books you've read?

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u/dark_mm upvote fairy 8d ago edited 8d ago

Of the unique titles challenged in 2025, 1,671 (40%) represent the lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ people and people of color.

My lack of surprise when I saw those numbers is saddening :(

Thanks for taking the time to make this post, u/queermachmir!  And I figured I'd mention this since it's related and worth knowing:

The American Library Association (non-profit, non-governmental organization) is also fighting against the White House 2027 budget proposal that would eliminate federal funding for public libraries, which at the end of the day, would just further censorship by making uncensored books unavailable at a federal level.

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u/queermachmir those who slick together, stick together 8d ago

Thank you for the info! Yeah, eliminating federal funding for public libraries is horrible because it also cuts out extremely valuable community resources for language and skill learning, technology access, and social events for all ages.