Help CBLDF fight the rising trend of identity censorship! Identity censorship happens when challenges are brought based on the personal identity of the author or the subject matter of a book. LGBTQ+ content is the most frequent target of identity censorship, including 8 of the 10 most challenged books of 2019. CBLDF is on the case with a brand new toolkit, and more than 20 resources that you can use to send censors a powerful message: that you can’t ban people for being who they are!
Please share our resources with your community to help fight identity censorship. Use the hashtag #DontBanMe and spread the word that every voice should be heard no matter how the speaker identifies.
Overcoming Identity Censorship PDF
Join CBLDF at the front lines of the fight against identity censorship today! When you join during National Library Week, you’ll receive a bonus set of CBLDF pronoun pins. When signing up as a member, just add the buttons to your order and use the code “BUTTON10” to get your pins. Wear your pronoun and “Don’t Ban Me” pins with pride and tell the world that you won’t let people’s identities be silenced.
Check out other resources CBLDF has developed below to aid you in your fight against identity censorship!
Fact Sheet
Webinars
Below are two pieces of the CBLDF webinar series that focus on identity censorship and LGBTQ+ comics.
Addressing Identity Censorship
Identity censorship is the most frequent form of intellectual freedom challenge in today’s environment. From moral panic about Drag Queen Story Hour to frequent challenges to LGBTQ+ comics, books, and authors, this disturbing trend is gaining traction. In this webinar, John Spears, Chief Librarian of the Pikes Peak Library District in Colorado Springs, and author Lilah Sturges share their experiences fighting identity censorship to help prevent future challenges. Watch it anytime at http:// cbldf.org/webinars
Panelists:
Lilah Sturges is a New York Times Bestselling writer whose works include the Prism Award-winning Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass, The Magicians: Alice’s Story, and numerous titles for DC Comics and other publishers. She lives in Austin, Texas with two teenage daughters and two cats.
John Spears, Chief Librarian, and CEO of Pikes Peak Library District in Colorado Springs, CO.
Take PRIDE in Comics: The Challenges Facing LGBTQ+ Content
In celebration of PRIDE month, we asked a panel of creators, educators, librarians, and retailers to discuss the challenges facing LGBTQ+ comics. During this informative session, cartoonist Paige Braddock, the Eisner-nominated creator of Jane’s World; historian, educator, and creator Justin Hall, the editor of award-winning anthology No Straight Lines: Four Decades of Queer Comics; librarian and activist Valerie Acklin, a member of the American Library Association’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT); and retailer Katie Proctor, the owner of Portland, Oregon’s inclusive comic book store, Books With Pictures, discuss the history of censorship of LGBTQ+ comics, why LGBTQ+ comics are an important part of any library or classroom collection, and what we can do to defend LGBTQ+ content from censors.
Additional Resources
CBLDF Banned Books Case Studies
Check out the CBLDF Banned Books Case Studies that focus on books targeted by identity censorship. Learn why they were censored and what steps were taken to keep them on the shelves!
Banned Books Case Study: Drama
Banned Books Case Study: Fun Home
Banned Books Case Study: Sandman
Banned Books Case Study: Stuck Rubber Baby
Banned Books Case Study: That One Summer
The CBLDF Banned Books Week Handbook is a free resource that gives you the scoop about what comics are banned, how to report and fight censorship, and how to make a celebration of Banned Books Week in your community!
CBLDF Discussion Guides are tools that can be used to lead conversations about challenged graphic novels and to help allay misconceptions about comics.
Fun Home CBLDF Discussion Guide
Sandman The Doll’s House CBLDF Discussion Guide
Using Graphic Novels in Education
Using Graphic Novels in Education is an ongoing feature from CBLDF that is designed to allay confusion around the content of graphic novels and to help parents and teachers raise readers.
Using Graphic Novels: American Born Chinese
Using Graphic Novels: Aya: Life in Yop City
Using Graphic Novels: Lumberjanes
Using Graphic Novels: Ms. Marvel
Using Graphic Novels: That One Summer
Adding Graphic Novels to Your Classroom
Adding Graphic Novels to Your Classroom is an ongoing feature from CBLDF provides specific resources for librarians and educators who may need to justify and defend the inclusion of the book in library and classroom collections.
Adding Drama to Your Collection
Adding Fun Home to Your Collection
Adding Lumberjanes to Your Collection
Adding My Brothers Husband to Your Collection
Adding This One Summer to Your Collection
Join CBLDF and share our resources with your community to help fight identity censorship. Use the hashtag #DontBanMe and spread the word that every voice should be heard no matter how the speaker identifies. Voice your support by checking out the CBLDF Don’t Ban Me collection on Teespring. Grab a t-shirt or a sticker and show that you’re willing to take a stand against identity censorship.
