Activists protest book bans in front of New York Public Library

"Our intellectual freedom and our right to access perspectives and experiences that are not the same as our own is really important, said Anne Maguire, a longtime LGBTQ activist and founding member of the Lesbian Avengers, who created the banned books brigade. Together, she and three other individuals Marilyn Oliva, Ann Holder and Martin Quinn printed out 50 larger-than-life, brightly colored book covers, a portion of which they brought with them to the library's steps in recognition of National Read a Book Day."

"The books ranged in their genre and the age of their targeted audience, from Captain Underpants to The Handmaid's Tale, but had one common factor between them: They have all been banned in one or more places across the United States. Out lesbian photographer Saskia Scheffer presents Roald Dahl's Matilda.Donna Aceto Book bans are on the rise in the country; the nonprofit PEN America estimates that nearly 16,000 titles have been prohibited in public schools since 2021,"

A group of activists gathered in front of the New York Public Library in Bryant Park on Sept. 6 to honor the written word and protest censorship. Anne Maguire, a longtime LGBTQ activist and founding member of the Lesbian Avengers, created the banned books brigade. The group produced 50 larger-than-life, brightly colored book covers and displayed a portion on the library steps for National Read a Book Day. The selection spanned genres and age groups, from Captain Underpants to The Handmaid's Tale, and each title had been banned in one or more U.S. locations. PEN America reports nearly 16,000 titles banned in public schools since 2021, many involving race and LGBTQ topics. Several highlighted books were authored by LGBTQ writers, including the children's title I Am Jazz.

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