Obama urges action against bans targeting LGBTQ+ books

Former President Barack Obama has called on Americans to take action against the rising trend of book bans, particularly those targeting LGBTQ+ literature. Recent studies have shown a significant increase in challenges to books, prompting Obama to raise awareness and advocate for the protection of diverse voices and perspectives.

Obama emphasized that many of the challenges specifically target books about the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, and other historically marginalized groups. In an open letter addressed to America’s librarians on Monday, he stated, “It’s no coincidence that these ‘banned books’ are often written by or feature people of color, indigenous people, and members of the LGBTQ+ community, although there have also been unfortunate instances where books by conservative authors or those containing ‘triggering’ content have been targeted for removal.”

Obama’s letter called attention to the global significance of the issue, highlighting that other nations observe America’s commitment to freedom of expression. “If America, a nation built on freedom of expression, allows certain voices and ideas to be silenced, why should other countries go out of their way to protect them?” he questioned.

Although the former president did not single out any specific states or leaders, he expressed his belief that banning books is fundamentally misguided and contrary to the values that have made the country great. He directed his message to librarians, acknowledging their crucial role in providing an open reading environment for all individuals.

“In a very real sense, you’re on the front lines – fighting every day to make the widest possible range of viewpoints, opinions, and ideas available to everyone,” Obama wrote. “Your dedication and professional expertise allow us to freely read and consider information and ideas, and decide for ourselves which ones we agree with.”

A recent Ipsos and NPR poll conducted in May revealed that 65 percent of Americans oppose school boards banning certain books and removing them from classrooms. The majority of respondents also expressed opposition to lawmakers writing legislation that would ban specific books.

Across multiple states, Republicans have aligned themselves with far-right extremist groups, such as Moms for Liberty, which advocate for the removal of certain books from schools and public libraries. President Joe Biden, who served as Obama’s vice president, recently announced new initiatives to counteract these measures, including the establishment of a Department of Education position for an agency coordinator tasked with monitoring and combating book bans.

Obama expressed his gratitude to librarians for their unwavering commitment to the freedom to read in a tweet, accompanied by his letter. He and his wife, Michelle Obama, recognize the librarians’ vital role in upholding the principles of a democratic society.