What's changed, and what's stayed the same.
By: Sarah Azman
Book banning is not new. Even before the twentieth century, governments restricted access to texts for a variety of reasons, including obscenity, political or religious content, the promotion of violence, and themes related to race, gender, or sexuality.¹ Concerns about what people read–especially young people–have existed for over a century. Institutions and targets have changed over the years, but have frequently included reducing people’s access to ideas outside of the dominant moral norms of the time period.
Heterosexuality has been the dominant sexual moral norm of society in many cultures, leaving sexual orientation and other LGBTQIA+ topics as a consistent target for book banning. On the American Library Association’s 2024 list of the top ten most challenged books,² 4 out of 10 books were challenged due to LGBTQIA+ content.
Early 20th Century Bans
In the early 1900s, works could be banned simply because they were written by an openly homosexual author or referenced homosexual relationships. Rarely were these types of books banned because of explicit descriptions of sexual acts. In 1928, The Well of Loneliness was banned³ from being sold in the UK because it contained a non-graphic account of a lesbian relationship.
Early 20th-century bans¹ cited national or state-level obscenity laws that were enforced by courts and governments. Sexual content was considered morally corrupting. Homosexual relationships were seen as inherently obscene or immoral. Governments were concerned that exposure would unravel the moral fabric of society.
Legal and Cultural Shifts in the Mid-Late 20th Century
If the same concerns about morality and sexuality exist today, why don’t we see the same kind of countrywide publishing bans anymore? During the mid-to-late 20th century, there was a push for legal protection¹ of intellectual freedom for adults. Widespread bans became harder to justify and sustain. Authority shifted towards local institutions, and schools became fertile ground for book banning under the guise of protecting children.
Why the Current Focus on Children’s and YA Literature?
Today’s book challenges⁴ often center on the normalization of any sexuality that differs from dominant heterosexual norms. The problem is not only the presence of sexual content itself, but exposure to divergent ideas on sexuality. Protection of children is one value that most people agree upon, no matter what side of the aisle. The underlying fear is still “moral corruption,” but curating materials for children is more acceptable than doing so for adults.
What types of books are so controversial? As of 2023, Todd Parr’s The Family Book⁵ for children has been banned in five Florida school districts. Why? It includes the line, “some families have two moms or two dads.” The YA graphic novel Flamer⁶ is another frequent target for book banning, as it unashamedly portrays a coming-of-age coming-out story that includes homophobic slurs and frank discussion of sexuality and sexual acts.
On February 24th, 2026, a bill called Stop the Sexualization of Children Act⁷ was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would ban federal funding for public school materials, including books, about gender dysphoria or transgenderism. While restricted to schools, it's more widespread than a single state or school district.
Same Issues, Different Language
While texts addressing sexual identity have been banned both in the past and today, the language and justification have changed. Homosexual content is now judged for age-appropriateness instead of obscenity or immorality. While modern bans are often local rather than judicial (for now!), children are still being protected from ideas that challenge dominant moral frameworks.
The Role of Publishers
What is the publisher’s role in all this? Publishers can continue to publish materials that they support, even when reception across institutions is uncertain. We can get creative about finding markets for all authors. Seeking submissions from historically underrepresented groups, including the LGBTQIA+ community, is something we are passionate about at Alex Parker Publishing.
Why History Matters
While book banning has changed in form, the motivation remains the same. Both then and now, those in power seek to restrict access to ideas that they find threatening to the dominant moral framework of the time. Overlaying historical contexts onto the current resurgence of book banning adds clarity, allowing us to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past.
Footnotes
1. “Book Censorship in the United States,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_censorship_in_the_United_States.
2. American Library Association, “Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2024,” https://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10.
3. “The Well of Loneliness,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Well_of_Loneliness.
4. PEN America, “Banned Books List 2025,” https://pen.org/banned-books-list-2025.
5. “The Family Book,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family_Book.
6. Common Sense Media, “Flamer Book Review,” https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/flamer.
7. People Magazine, “New Bill Seeks to Ban LGBTQ+ Books From Public Schools Nationwide,” https://people.com/new-bill-seeks-to-ban-lgbtq-books-from-schools-nationwide-11915398.