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Judge Orders Restoration of Banned Books to Public Library Shelves in Texas

The ruling comes as the United States sees an increase in the number of books prohibited, particularly those containing content, themes, or characters relevant to the LGBTQ+ community.
on Apr 03, 2023

According to CNN, in April 2022, seven citizens sued Llano County officials for removing 12 books from public libraries that were judged 'inappropriate' because they addressed gender, racial, or sexuality issues.

The plaintiffs argued that removing the communications violated their First and 14th Amendment rights.

Becoming Jazz: My Life as a (Transgender) Adolescent by Jazz Jennings and They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Formation of an American Terrorist Organization by Susan Campbell Bartoletti was among the titles.

Judge Robert Pitman issued an order stating that the physical books must be restored to the shelves and that the library must represent the texts in its catalog.

"While libraries are given a lot of leeway in their selection and purchase decisions, the First Amendment prevents libraries from removing books based on either viewpoint or content discrimination," CNN reported Pitman as saying.

Defendants in the lawsuit, who include library employees, a judge, and county commissioners, said the books were taken as part of a routine "weeding" procedure.

On the other hand, Pitman disagreed, claiming that outsiders had influenced the decision to remove the books.

"Whether or not the books qualified for 'weeding' under the library's current regulations, there is little doubt that the focused evaluation was directly triggered by concerns from users and county authorities about the contents of these titles," he stated.

"Furthermore, there is no indication that any of the volumes were scheduled for weeding before receiving these complaints; on the contrary, numerous books suitable for weeding based on the same reasons appear to have stayed on the shelf for many years."

According to the ruling, community groups categorized some publications as "pornographic trash" because of their "support of LGBTQ values." Some targeted publications were written by people of color and focused on racism and the lives of Black Americans.

Ellen Leonida, a solicitor for the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, called the verdict a "ringing triumph for democracy."

"The government cannot tell individuals whether or not they can read," she remarked. "Our country was established on the free interchange of ideas, and banning publications with which you disagree is a direct attack on our most fundamental rights."

The ruling comes as the United States sees an increase in the number of books prohibited, particularly those containing content, themes, or characters relevant to the LGBTQ+ community.

The author of the graphic novel series Heartstopper, Alice Osman, has denounced book restrictions as thinly veiled bigotry.

"Under the pretext of 'care for children,' racism, homophobia, and transphobia are flourishing." "This is not only a U.S. problem," Oseman said. "Here in the U.K., we're witnessing the same 'worry.'

Juno Dawson, a trans novelist, has also spoken out against book bans, which have resulted in her works being banned.

The bans are taking place, according to the author of This Book Is Gay because the "far-right has run out of ideas."

"What else can you attack but trans healthcare, drag queens, and books?" she said.

"So I just want to say a giant thank you to all the librarians and educators who are fighting to end free speech and provide young LGBTQ+ individuals the right to see themselves in books." Stand firm in total solidarity." According to CNN, in April 2022, seven citizens sued Llano County officials for removing 12 books from public libraries that were judged 'inappropriate' because they addressed gender, racial, or sexuality issues.