Friends, we’re writing today because, to put it plainly, queer and trans stories, histories, and lives are at stake. Since 1987, Lambda Literary has preserved and championed the writers and readers who create these histories. From serving young people in our Writers in Schools program; to supporting blossoming writers through the Writers Retreat for Emerging LGBTQIA+ Voices; to celebrating the most accomplished queer writers today via the Lambda Literary Awards, our programming nurtures writers and readers at every stage of their lives and careers. With each moment of fervent work, we lead the fight to protect queer and trans literature and lives.
Today, we are speaking up. We will not remain silent as LGBTQIA+ literature and authors are under attack. We will not stand by while a draconian administration seeks to suppress free speech, derail inclusion, and dampen queer joy. Instead, we will do what they fear the most—what we have always done. We will shout even louder, write even queer-er, read even deeper, celebrate even fiercer. With joy, we will resist.
Our authors’ voices and livelihoods are at stake. In the 2023 to 2024 school year alone, book bans tripled—more than 10,000 iconic books were removed from both adult and children’s libraries across the country. Stories that featured LGBTQIA+ characters formed almost 40% of the bans, and nearly 60% of the banned books were written for young adult audiences. These books tell vital stories young people rely on to help them cope: They tackle themes like grief and death, substance abuse, suicide, mental health challenges, and sexual violence. These are books we cherished and learned from as children, ranging from And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Henry Cole; Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak; The Color Purple by Alice Walker; The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank; Flamer by Mike Curato; and the Merriam Webster dictionary. These are stories that save lives.
In the new administration, things have gotten demonstrably worse. In the first hours of his presidency, Donald Trump signed executive orders to curb “gender ideology” and “racial indoctrination” in our K through 12 school systems, weaponizing book bans as an official duty of the Department of Defense. Under a direct order by this administration, Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings has been removed from the Naval Academy’s library. Two copies of Mein Kampf remain on the shelves.
LGBTQIA+ stories do more than help our communities feel seen. Queer and Trans texts not only challenge the status quo, they preserve inclusive language and share authentic, original stories that reflect our diverse communities, on our own terms. Book banning and censorship don’t just harm students and readers in general—they make it harder for authors to find opportunities and sustain successful careers.
The intention is clear—to stop authors from writing their stories and young people from reading them as early as possible. A 2024 study reported that 49% of LGBTQIA+ youth between the ages of 13 and 17 experienced bullying. Since Lambda’s inception, we’ve created LGBTQ-friendly programs in 886 schools and delivered more than 25,000 books featuring queer protagonists to our students. Our overwhelming experience confirms the research that shows that when given the opportunity to engage with inclusive literature, bullying is significantly reduced as students are taught self-advocacy, creative writing, critical thinking and social awareness. Librarians, teachers and school administrators bridge the gap in terms of learning, diversity and culture. Educators are responsible for shaping the minds of tomorrow, these same minds deserve an inclusive curriculum. Book banning is an oppressive tool used to erase the stories of marginalized communities, while attempting to rewrite a history that we must all remember and acknowledge.
Lambda has always been an impactful resource for our authors. Since the inception of the Lammys, we have awarded 4,111 books with a Lambda Literary Award, to authors who have gone on to disrupt the publishing industry by writing books in all genres that were both commercial and literary successes. We’ve also awarded authors more than $227,000 in special prizes through the years. Today, we need to use our influence to fight back.
We have a voice, and we have power—and now is the time to use both. This is our Stonewall moment. The attacks on our stories, our histories, and our very existence demand nothing less than our full resistance. We owe everything to those who fought before us—for every book they wrote, every truth they dared to speak, every barrier they broke down. To remain silent now would not only betray their sacrifice—it would be a moral failure, an unforgivable insult, a travesty of justice. We will not let our voices be stripped from shelves, our stories erased from classrooms, our children denied the right to see themselves reflected in the world.
We’re calling on you to rise with us. Sign onto our statement and join your local Right to Read Network. This is not just about books—it’s about who gets to belong, who gets to be heard, who gets to imagine a future. Unite Against Book Bans. Fight for the freedom to read, to learn, to live.
This is who we are, and this is why we’re speaking out.
SIGNED
LAMBDA LITERARY
Ana K. Wrenn
Anthony DiPietro
Australian LGBTIQA+ Multicultural Council
Authors Against Book Bans
Betsy Carswell
Candlewick Press
Cara Randall
Cheryl Clarke
Christopher Bell, Managing Editor, Atthis Arts
Clara Ward
Cristina Deptula
Diana Clare
Emily D.E. Bell, Executive Editor, Atthis Arts
EveryLibrary
Freedom Socialist Party
Golden Crown Literary Society
Geer Austin
Holiday House
Lee Wind
Jamie Rose
Jennifer Morales
Jim Elledge
Jobert E. Abueva
Johnny Townsend
Joy Conley
Kathleen Yohn
Kimberly Cooper Griffin, Author
Libro.fm
L M Feldman
Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
Malory Hom
Margaret Morrison, Ph.D.
Marisa Siegel
Mark Hiser
Mary Van Akin, Executive Director of School & Library Marketing, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
Meeg Pincus
Michael Haynes
Michael Joe Armijo
Molly Ellis, SVP, Publicity at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
Omy Keyes
Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity (OWLS)
Patrick E. Horrigan
Paul Strickler
Peachtree Publishing
Queerly Recommended podcast
ReadOUT, Our Arts & Culture
Rebecca M Quirk
Rebecca Rose
Robbie Yohn
Robert Schwartz
Sapphic Action Support Squad
seanan forbes
Space Wizard Science Fantasy Press
Seraphin M Morgan
Shelley Ettinger
Si Clarke & Elliott Hay
Stephanie Prieto
Stewart C Baker
Suzie Townsend
Tagan Shepard
Tricia Lawrence, Senior Agent, Aevitas Creative Management
Vanessa Ricci-Thode
windflower
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