LGBTQ stories are disproportionately censored in schools and libraries. #UncensoredPride aims to raise awareness of attacks on LGBTQ voices in educational spaces, educate on the dangers of LGBTQ censorship and empower youth to lead change in their communities and nationally.
#UncensoredPride Contents
What’s at stake?
Resources for students
Resources for inclusive teaching
Read with Pride Library (coming soon)
Join the fight
Allied organizations
What’s at stake?
LGBTQ representation in literature and the arts fosters tolerance and empathy in our diverse, yet largely heteronormative, society. Schools and libraries that protect young people’s freedom to read and express diverse viewpoints promote self-esteem and self-acceptance for LGBTQ youth as they explore their identities. Encountering diverse stories encourages tolerance and welcoming of differences among all students.
LGBTQ experiences are underrepresented in media and the limited stories that are available are disproportionately censored in schools and libraries.
Several states continue to enforce outdated laws that ban the “promotion of homosexuality” (hence the term “no promo homo laws”) and prohibit schools from adopting anti-bullying policies to protect LGBTQ youth. These laws have been broadly applied and interpreted, leaving many teachers unsure of what is and is not permitted in their classrooms and leading to self-censorship and a lack of LGBTQ representation in curriculums.
These laws were enacted in the midst of the AIDS crisis in the 1980s, part of broad effort to promote abstinence-only education. But like much of the social response to AIDS, these reforms were homophobic, biased and damaging. Research consistently shows that the censorship of information about safe-sex practices can lead to higher rates of teen pregnancy and the spread of STDs, particularly for LGBTQ youth without adequate–or any–relevant sex education.
We call on all educators and community leaders to champion LGBTQ-inclusion in schools.
Learn more about “No Promo Homo” Laws: www.glsen.org/actvitiy/no-promo-homo-laws
*Note: In April 2019, the Arizona State Legislature passed (House vote 55-5 and Senate vote 19-10) and the Governor of Arizona signed a repeal of the 1991 HIV law (ARS § 15-716).
Resources for Students
Resources for Inclusive Teaching
- Defend LGBTQ Stories: A Guide for Students, Teachers and Parents
- Read with Pride Library: a collection of challenged LGBTQ books and information on their value to students (Coming Soon)
From the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
- Making a Safe Space for LGBTQ Texts into Your Classroom
- Statement on Gender and Language
- Incorporating LGBTQ+ Students and Texts in Your Classroom
- Statement on Diverse Gender Expression and Gender Non-Conformity Curriculum in English Grades 7-12
- Safe Zones: Supporting LGBTQ Youth through Literature
- Celebrate Pride Month
From the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
From the American Association of School Libraries
Add your voice!
Why do you think youth should be free to learn? Share your thoughts on your social media accounts.
Be sure to include the #UncensoredPride hashtag so we can amplify your posts!
Fight LGBTQ+ censorship in your community
Are you a student or educator in an anti-LGBTQ state?
Are you an educator or librarian who has been implicitly or explicitly prevented from presenting LGBTQ stories?
Have you seen LGBTQ stories and voices silenced in your school or community, in any state?
THAT’S CENSORSHIP.
The best way to fight censorship is to call it out. Tell us your story!
If you feel you need legal assistance, report directly to Lambda Legal.