Illinois has become the first state in the United States to outlaw book bans, with Governor J.B. Pritzker signing a bill into law on Monday. The law, which will take effect on January 1, 2024, will cut off state funding for any public library that attempts to restrict or ban materials based on “partisan or doctrinal” disapproval. Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias was the driving force behind the legislation, which was passed unanimously in both the Illinois House and Senate. It has been praised by the American Library Association, and it is hoped that it will set a precedent for other states to follow.
Posts tagged as “The American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom”
The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom has released a report showing that books with LGBTQ+ themes are the most likely to be banned or challenged in public schools and libraries. Maia Kobabe's graphic memoir “Gender Queer” topped the list for the second consecutive year. Amanda Darrow of the Utah Pride Center said that these challenges are “a direct attack on the rights of LGBTQ+ people to exist and be seen.” The OIF reported that in 2020, there were 566 challenges reported to them.