List of LGBTQ+ books banned in 2022
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Books written by or about LGBTQ+ persons, as well as titles connected to Black culture and history, are being targeted by school districts and conservative lawmakers. Although censorship violates the First Amendment right to freedom of speech, at least 10 states in the United States have adopted book banning as a way of suppressing ideas and information.
Book banning is a form of censorship used by private individuals, government officials, or organizations to remove books from libraries, school reading lists, or bookstore shelves because they object to their content. In other words, a form of censorship that is being used to silence minorities' voices.
In December, more than 600 authors and publishers signed a statement condemning the "organized political attack" that "threatens the education of America's children." Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison, Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky are among the LGBTQ+ titles being targeted right now.
Below is a list of 23 LGBTQ+ books that have been banned or are currently facing bans across the U.S.
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
A series of essays following Johnson's journey as a young queer Black man in Plainfield, New Jersey. The book was well praised by the New York Times, School Library Journal, Booklist, and Publishers Weekly. In 2021, a Flagler County School Board member filed a criminal complaint against the Superintendent for carrying the book, objecting to mentions of masturbation and oral sex. All Boys Aren't Blue was adapted into a short film by Nathan Hale Williams in 2021. Buy All Boys Aren't Blue on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
This semi-autobiographical novel written by Jonathan Evison tells us a story about a young Mexican-American man who has faced discrimination and other hardships during his life. Now, he is on a road to self-discovery. In 2021, after a board meeting of the Leander Independent School District in Texas, three people filed reports with the local police against the book, saying it “was full of obscenity and sexual content". Buy Lawn Boy on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
Melissa (formerly published as George) by Alex Gino
A children's novel about a young transgender girl became one of the most banned books of the year. Melissa is in the fourth grade, discovering her true identity and coming out to her family, a struggle many transgender kids face that often. Buy Melissa on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
Better Nate Than Ever and Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federle
The Lambda Literary Award-winning trilogy follows Nate, a young queer kid that is obsessed with Broadway, moving from his small town to New York City. Better Nate Than Ever recently inspired a musical comedy film released and produced by Disney Plus. The book, however, was banned in Texas. Buy Better Nate Than Ever and Five, Six, Seven, Nate! on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
This autobiographical comic introduces to us the story of Maia, from adolescence to adulthood, exploring gender identity and sexuality. Maia shows her perspective on what it means to be nonbinary and asexual. The American Library Association ranked it as the most challenged book in 2021. Henry McMaster, the Republican governor of South Carolina, called for an investigation into "obscene and pornographic" material such as Gender Queer in the state's schools. Buy Gender Queer on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
The American cartoonist Alison Bechdel addresses themes of sexual orientation, gender roles, suicide, emotional abuse, and dysfunctional family life in this incredible book. Bechdel comes out as a lesbian and discovers that her father is also gay, a few weeks before losing him. The book has been banned in different cities, including Somerset County in New Jersey and Rapid City in South Dakota. Buy Fun Home on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
The Breakaways by Cathy G. Johnson
The Breakaways is a portrait of the friendship between Faith and Amanda, who both join the school soccer team creating a bond with their teammates. A beautiful graphic novel that embraces diversity. The book has been banned in Spring Branch (Houston) ISD's elementary school libraries after a parent complained that it included a transgender character. Buy The Breakaways on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Lily Hu, a teenage daughter of Chinese immigrants, begins to explore her sexuality after she meets Kathleen Miller. Last Night received the National Book Award for Young People's Literature. This was the first time a young adult book featuring an LGBT woman as the main character won the National Book Award. Buy Last Night at the Telegraph Club on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson
The story is set during four months in Calypso, Florida, revolving around teenager Henry Denton, who is abducted by aliens following the suicide of his boyfriend, Jesse. It's a book about love and loss, mixing romance and sci-fi. The novel won the 2016 Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year award. It was also named to the American Library Association’s Top Ten Rainbow List of 2017. The book was also banned in Texas. Buy We Are the Ants on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
The author interviewed six trans and nonbinary young adults to document and share their individual experiences of gender. A groundbreaking work of LGBTQ literature that became the second-most banned book in 2019. Buy Beyond Magenta on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
The graphic novel follows Callie, a middle school student and theater-lover who works on the crew of her school's drama production. One of her best friends, Jesse, happens to be gay. This was enough to make the story become one of the most banned books in the US. Buy Drama on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
More Happy Than Not is a New York Times bestseller and a Junior Library Guild selection. The author “explores the possibilities of a world where death, and life, can be forgotten, roles rewritten and broken hearts mended.” It’s a story about pursuing happiness and love after a tragic moment. Buy More Happy Than Not on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
The story of a trans girl is based on the real-life experiences of Jazz Jennings, a transgender YouTube personality, Human Rights Campaign Youth Ambassador, and the main star of the TLC series I Am Jazz. Buy I Am Jazz on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Charlie is a wallflower, always watching life from the sidelines until two charismatic students become his mentors. The free-spirited Sam and her stepbrother Patrick help Charlie discover the joys of friendship, first love, music, and more. The Perks of Being a Wallflower inspired a film with the same name released in 2012. The book was placed at number 16 on NPR's list of the "100 Best-Ever Teen Novels". It was banned in Wallingford, Connecticut, for “sexual content, and glorification of alcohol use and drugs.” Buy The Perks of Being a Wallflower on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki
Rose and Windy discover themselves and their sexuality while battling family dynamics and mental disabilities. A coming of age story about two teenage friends. Libraries in Henning, Minnesota, and Longwood, Florida removed This One Summer from their shelves after parents complained of the book's use of profanity and mature themes. Buy This One Summer on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
Weird Girl and What's His Name by Meagan Brothers
Seventeen-year-old geeks Lula and Rory share everything--sci-fi and fantasy fandom, Friday night binge-watching of old X-Files episodes, and that feeling that they don't quite fit in. Lula knows that her best friend, Rory, is gay. And Rory understands why she worships the mother who walked out on her. Then Lula discovers that Rory has been having an affair with his middle-aged boss. When Lula disappears in the middle of the night, Rory is left alone. Buy Weird Girl and What's His Name on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Marlon Bundo and Jill Twiss
The book is about a fictional day in the life of Marlon Bundo, the real-life pet rabbit of former Vice President of the United States Mike Pence, and details the same-sex romance between Marlon Bundo and another rabbit named Wesley. You can imagine what the conservatives thought about it… The book was challenged due to its LGBTQIA+ content, "its effect on many young people who would read it," concerns that it was sexually explicit and biased, as well as its political and religious viewpoints. Surprisingly, Charlotte Pence, Mike Pence's daughter, supported the book. Buy A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack
A children's picture book that tells the story of a young prince who falls in love with a knight after the two work together to battle a dragon threatening the kingdom. The Upshur County Public Library in West Virginia removed Prince & Knight from its shelves after Josh Layfield, a pastor, met with library officials. Buy Prince & Knight on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
Mommy, Mama and Me by Leslea Newman
Another children’s picture book shows a toddler spending the day with its mommies. From hide-and-seek to dress-up, then bath time and a kiss goodnight, there's no limit to what a loving family can do together. Buy Mommy, Mama, and Me on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
10,000 Dresses by Marcus Ewert
The book tells a story about a young transgender girl named Bailey who dreams of wearing extravagant dresses. When she comes to her parents for help, they are not particularly accepting, but she eventually meets a friend inspired by her courage who is willing to help her out. 10,000 Dresses is a 2010 Stonewall Honor Book in Children and Young Adult Literature. In Cuero, Texas, the picture book was banned by the Cuero Independent School District from John C. French Elementary School for its “politically, racially, or socially offensive” material. Buy 10,000 Dresses on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
Lily and Dunkin by Donna Gephart
Lily Jo McGrother, born Timothy McGrother, is a girl. But being a girl is not so easy when you look like a boy. Especially when you’re in the eighth grade. She meets Dunkin Dorfman, birth name Norbert Dorfman, who is dealing with bipolar disorder and has just moved from New Jersey. Their relationship will change their lives forever. Parents at the Palm Beach County School District were upset about its story. Buy Lily and Dunkin on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
Wings of Fire series by Tui T. Sutherland
Wings of Fire is a series of children's fantasy novels following young dragons, called dragonets, fulfilling prophecies in a fantasy world. The series has different LGBTQ characters. Buy Wings of Fire on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
Former PSHCE teacher and acclaimed YA author Juno Dawson give an uncensored look at what it's like to grow up as LGBT. Including testimonials from people across the gender and sexual spectrums. This Book is Gay was the ninth most banned or challenged book in the US in 2021. Buy This Book is Gay on Amazon or support your local indie bookstore!
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