The vast majority of book bans that are taking hold across the country specifically aim to remove books that are by and about LGBTQ people, communities of color, and other marginalized groups. Students have the right to equal educational opportunity and a First Amendment right to speak and receive information freely.

Massachusetts
On January 23, 2023, GLAD and the ACLU of Massachusetts sent a letter urging Massachusetts public school districts to protect students’ legal rights by rejecting censorship in school libraries. Read the letter.

Maine
On May 16, 2023, GLAD and the ACLU of Maine sent a letter to Maine’s public school leaders demanding they uphold their own legal obligations and students’ First Amendment rights by stopping efforts to ban and censor books. Read the letter.

New Hampshire
On December 4, 2023, GLAD and the ACLU of New Hampshire sent a letter to Frank Edelblut, the commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education (DOE), warning about First Amendment concerns regarding the DOE’s insinuation that the Dover School District should consider banning two books as “developmentally inappropriate.” In a separate open letter to the superintendents of New Hampshire’s school districts, GLAD and the ACLU of New Hampshire urged them to take a stand against censorship and protect student access to an equal and safe environment by resisting calls to remove books from school libraries. Read the letters.