“Every burned book enlightens the world.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Libraries, schools, along with parents and teachers, are facing a difficult conundrum. Books are a facet of media that are continually banned and challenged for containing subjects deemed ‘unsuitable for children.’ They may include topics, characters, or conversations that parents may believe are inappropriate for their young children to be exposed to. LGBTQIA+ identities in literature lead to some of the most common challenges by parents. Books containing characters who are a part of this community are thought of as inappropriate, but these books are necessary for young people to get a sense of what the world is like outside of their home. Leaving books on the shelves that contain LGBTQIA+ related conversations can allow for children discovering themselves to feel accepted if they identify as a member of these communities. It can also lead to a better understanding of the community as heterosexual children grow up, which helps prevent bullying and marginalization. Books containing LGBTQIA+ subject matters should never be removed from the shelves if they are educational, accessible and helpful for young people.

Children’s exposure to complex topics at a young age has proven to benefit their growth and development. If a young person is left unexposed to components of their culture, it can be difficult for them to accept these things when they are in the ‘real world’ outside of their youth. Books are a leading source of exposure for young people, as learning to read is a fundamental aspect of growing up. Literature can contain references to new ideas and themes that children have yet to discover and can allow for children to read about these new subjects in an accessible, helpful manner. Some subjects are deemed unsuitable for young people. Parents challenge books containing these subjects more often than any other demographic (Ediaz). They may challenge books if they include sexually explicit material, offensive language, depictions of violent acts, racial language, or topics like sex and gender, which can often be deemed as inappropriate for young people (Banned Books). This desire to challenge and ban books is an aspect of the ever-popular cancel culture has been a facet of censorship in America. Censorship has existed for hundreds of years, as the first recorded “banning” of a book was in 1637, when Thomas Morton criticized the Puritan lifestyle in his book, New English Canaan and received backlash (Bush). Since then, cancel culture has become more prevalent. When books are talked about, so are banned books. Libraries have begun to take action against censorship, forming programs to allow children to be exposed to and aware of banned books.

The LGBTQIA+ community is one that faces marginalization, discomfort, and distress because of a certain aspect of their identity. The acronym stands for each identity that makes up the members of this community, most of whom are similar through the fact that they are not heterosexual. An exception would be the T, which stands for Transgender, as this is a gender identity and not a sexual orientation, as many of the others are. Folks who identify as non-heterosexual or non-cisgender are very often subject to feeling ostracized by peers, as well as feeling insecure about their own identities due to the social climate around them. In fact, according to The Trevor Project, youth in the LGBTQIA+ community are four times more likely to attempt suicide as their peers who are not in this community. Causes of suicidal intentions, depression and anxiety in queer youth are often related to how these youth are treated by their family members and peers. As openly identifying as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community is frowned upon and even criminalized in some parts of the world, it can be difficult for a person to feel secure in and proud of their identity. This is why young people should be educated about the truths and misconceptions about folks in the LGBTQIA+ community. As children grow up, they use the knowledge and perspectives they were exposed to as kids to form their own perspectives and opinions. A part of media that children in America are consistently exposed to is literature. Books uncover new ideas and themes for children that they may not have learned about before. Books containing depictions of folks in the LGBTQIA+ community can be so important for young people, as it could be their first instance of exposure to that community. Accessible, educational books about this topic can prevent ignorance as a child grows up.

Alyssa Niccolini addresses the effect banning books may have on young people in “Precocious Knowledge: Using Banned Books to Engage in a Youth Lens.” She discusses how she often feels that a piece of literature deserves to be challenged at first glance. This is likely due to the discomfort one may feel when exposed to a topic in literature that they’re not used to. She then addresses the ignorance that can come with banning books, and the fact that, as kids are growing up, they have perspectives that are influenced a lot by what they read. If literature is provided to children that displays a supportive, positive outlook on being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, this dangerous ignorance can be avoided.

What makes ignorance dangerous? According to “Banned Books Remind Us Of the Power of the Written Word,” biases in children become imbedded in their behavior by the age of seven. If a child is only exposed to a certain perspective, they will grow up without a well-rounded view of the world around them. And when a person is unfamiliar with something, it can be difficult to fully accept and feel comfortable around that topic. As society is changing, folks who are ignorant to these changes are the ones who will fall behind. Having knowledge about the LGBTQIA+ community as a child allows for acceptance of others as a child grows up. This will also lead to the awareness of societal changes, sparking an interest in learning about how the community is growing and changing. Once a young person has a starting point reading books, they will find it easier to ask questions and talk to people directly about things they may be unsure about.

Keeping books on shelves is also incredibly important because it can give kids a sense of validation and representation. Growing up can be difficult without knowing that there are others out there who share a similar experience or identity. As books are a great way to get a sense of what the world is like, it is incredibly beneficial for kids to know there are others like them out there in the LGBTQIA+ community. Without books to educate children on queer identities, queer kids who are discovering their identities will not understand what it means to be a part of the community. Feelings of being misunderstood can present themselves within a young person, and that lack of acceptance can cause mental wellness to diminish. Children who are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community tend to deal with “confusion and loneliness… as they struggle to discover, understand, and accept themselves” (Garden). This sums up the mental and emotional trials that come with discovering one’s identity. While children are already facing inner stressors, they don’t need outside stress. This outside stress can be from peers not treating them with the respect. Kids can grow up believing they don’t deserve respect if they don’t have books to teach them that they are valid and understood. A 2021 poll by Statista shows that 37% of adults believe elementary school libraries in the US should not contain books discussing homosexual or transgender topics. Only 39% of responders answered that they didn’t support banning of these kinds of books anywhere. In modern times, adults who aren’t comfortable with the subject of LGBTQIA+ identities have opinions that can lead to that dangerous ignorance.

Some believe books should be banned when containing LGBTQIA+ subjects are trying to ‘protect’ young people from a topic that might be uncomfortable. But if they are never exposed to this kind of ‘discomfort,’ they will never learn to accept it and understand the truths about such a misunderstood topic. Children need to be educated about our ever-changing society; learning to understand the truths and fallacies about current events will help them become comfortable with topics like LGBTQIA+ communities. The best way for young people to be more understanding is for them to become educated first. We can help contribute to this increase in education by allowing books to be taught in schools and kept on library shelves. When children are reading about such topics, their parents can learn with them as they read these books aloud. Teaching is one of the best ways for a person to learn. And when children in the LGBTQIA+ community see their peers and the adults around them beginning to educate themselves, they will be so much more open and willing to accept themselves.

Hiding from one’s own identity is not uncommon for young people, and I am no stranger to this. As a young person, I didn’t even know gay people existed until I was in middle school. It was such a taboo topic that I was seldom informed about, and when I began to realize what my sexual orientation was, I yearned for a sense of community and acceptance. Since I wasn’t exposed to this kind of identity in media, I was unable to fully accept myself for the queer person I was. It was a part of my identity that I set aside out of fear and discomfort, as well as out of anxiety that I would never be looked at the same way by my parents and friends. I would want nothing more than to completely remove this kind of experience from any young queer person, as it was difficult growing up being half-ashamed of myself. When a person is educated, they create a better quality of life for themselves as well as for those around them.

Works Cited

Garden, Nancy. (1994). Banned: Lesbian and Gay Kids’ Books under Fire. Lambda Book Report: A Review of Contemporary Gay and Lesbian Literature.

“Facts About Suicide.” The Trevor Project. 2016.

“Banned Books Remind Us Of The Power Of The Written Word.” Weekend Edition Saturday, 27 Sept. 2014. Gale Literature Resource Center. Accessed 1 Apr. 2021.

“Banned Book FAQ.” Advocacy, Legislation & Issues, 30 July 2019,

Bush, Ally. “The Little-Known History of Banned Books in the United States – Reading Partners | Reading Partners.” Reading Partners.

Statista. “Banning of books with homosexual or transgender characters in the U.S.”
Published by Amy Watson, Mar 1, 2019.

Niccolini, Alyssa D. “Precocious Knowledge: Using Banned Books to Engage in a Youth Lens.” English Journal 104.3 (2015): 22-8. ProQuest. Web. 27 Apr. 2021.