ABA Condemns Proposed National Book Ban
The American Booksellers Association said in its Wednesday Bookselling This Week newsletter that the organization has “deep concerns” about U.S. HR 7661, which would withhold funds from public school classrooms and school libraries alleged to make “sexually-oriented material” accessible to students.
The ABA speculated that the legislation’s “chilling effect”—discouraging schools from acquiring books with LGBTQ content, and publishers from releasing titles with LGBTQ content—could have a significant impact on bookstores, making it more difficult for booksellers “to get their customers the stories they want.”
The ABA urged its member booksellers to to email or call their representatives, and to participate in the March 17–31 Trans Rights Readathon, leading up to the March 31 annual Trans Day of Visibility, “to help your customers demonstrate their demand for diverse stories."
