25 LGBTQ+ Books That Are Banned In Schools in 2022
With an increasing urgency, lawmakers and parents across the country are demanding that school districts remove books from their libraries that they've deemed as inappropriate -- books that deal overwhelmingly with race, gender, and sexuality. In December, more than 600 authors, publishers, and bookstore owners signed a statement condemning what they called an "organized political attack" that "threatens the education of America's children" taking place via bans in at least 10 states.
Three of the most frequent LGBTQ+ titles to be banned include Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison, Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, and All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson. One Florida school board member went so far as to call the police as a result of George M. Johnson's book and file a report.
The effort to ban books with LGBTQ+ characters and themes is not new.
A top target in recent years has been Alex Gino's middle-grade novel about a transgender girl, Melissa (formerly published as George). According to the American Libary Association, Melissa has been the most challenged book in the U.S. for the past three years in a row.
Below is a list of 25 LGBTQ+ books that have been banned or are currently facing bans across the U.S.
This list has been updated on 09/24/2022.
All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson
Johnson's young adult non-fiction "memoir-manifesto" about growing up a queer Black man in New Jersey and Virginia.
Click here to buy All Boys Aren't Blue.
Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison
A young Mexican-American man faces discrimination and other hardships on the road to self-discovery.
Click here to buy Lawn Boy.
Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
What began as an autobiographical comic, a way for Maia (e/em/eir) to explain to eir family what it means to be nonbinary and asexual, Gender Queer has turned into an intimate and touching guide for teenagers on a new way to think about gender.
Click here to buy Gender Queer.
Better Nate Than Ever and Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federle
The Lambda Literary Award-winning trilogy follows Nate from his small-town to New York City. Can he nail his audition for the new Broadway production of E.T.: The Musical and fulfill his dreams of stardom?
Click here to buy Better Nate Than Ever and Five, Six, Seven, Nate!
The Breakaways by Cathy G. Johnson
To Faith's surprise, Amanda, a popular eighth-grader, convinces her to join the school soccer team, the Bloodhounds.
They might not be great at soccer, but Faith and her teammates soon form a bond both on and off the soccer field that challenges their notions of loyalty, identity, friendship, and unity.
Click here to buy Breakaways.
Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel
In Alison Bechdel's queer classic, Bechdel comes out as a lesbian only to discover that her father is also gay. A few weeks later he dies and leaves Bechdel and the rest of her family to grapple with his legacy.
Click here to buy Fun Home.
Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo
Last night, under the flashing neon lights of the Telegraph Club, Lily Hu met Kathleen Miller and sparks immediately flew. Their romance is the heart of this National Book Award-winning coming-of-age story from Malinda Lo.
Click here to buy Last Night at the Telegraph Club.
Melissa (formerly published as George) by Alex Gino
One of the most banned books of the year, Alex Gino's groundbreaking middle-grade book follows a young trans girl who discovers her true identity.
Click here to buy Melissa.
We Are the Ants by Shaun David Hutchinson
A modern YA novel that blends sci-fi (hello, alien abductions) and romance.
Click here to buy We Are the Ants.
Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin
Susan Kuklin interviewed six trans and nonbinary young adults to document and share their individual experiences of gender. Each interview shows the wide breadth of the trans experience, how different it can be depending on a number of factors including geography and family.
Click here to buy Beyond Magenta.
Drama by Raina Telgemeier
Drama is a graphic novel that follows Callie, a middle school student and theater-lover who works on the crew of her school's drama production.
Click here to buy Drama.
More Happy Than Not by Adam Silvera
Why does happiness have to be so hard? After his father's suicide and with his girlfriend out of town, Aaron Soto finds himself growing closer and closer to his new friend, Thomas.
Click here to buy More Happy Than Not.
Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) by L.C. Rosen
An unapologetically queer and extremely sex-positive teen works to discover who is trying to blackmail him back into the closet.
Click here to buy Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts).
I Am Jazz by Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
The story of a trans girl, based on the real-life experiences of Jazz Jennings.
Click here to buy I Am Jazz.
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.
Click here to buy The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki
A coming of age story about two teenage friends who discover their sexuality during a summer in the small beach town of Awago.
Click here to buy This One Summer.
Weird Girl and What's His Name by Meagan Brothers
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 is middle-aged boss. When Lula disappears in the middle of the night, Rory is left alone.
Click here to buy Weird Girl and What's His Name.
A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo by Jill Twiss, illustrated by EG Keller
This children's picture book tells the story of a Very Special boy bunny who falls in love with another boy bunny.
Click here to buy A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson illustrated by Henry Cole
At the penguin house at the Central Park Zoo, two penguins named Roy and Silo were a little bit different from the others. But their desire for a family was the same. And with the help of a kindly zookeeper, Roy and Silo got the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their very own.
Click here to buy And Tango Makes Three.
Sex is a Funny Word by Cory Silverberg, illustrated by Fiona Smyth
Sex Is a Funny Word opens up conversations between young people and their caregivers in a way that allows adults to convey their values and beliefs while providing information about boundaries, safety, and joy.
Click here to buy Sex Is a Funny Word.
This Day in June by Gayle E. Pitman, illustrated by Kristyna Litten
This Day In June allows readers to immerse themselves in a celebration of pride and share in a day when we are all unified. It's a beautiful, humorous, and powerful reflection on the LGBTQ+ community.
Click here to buy This Day in June.
This Book is Gay by Juno Dawson
In addition to telling real stories from people across the gender and sexual spectrum and illustrating them with hilarious illustrations, this book explores sexuality and what it's like to grow up LGBTQ.
You are exceptional regardless of how you identify (or don't identify) and whomever you love. You matter. And this book proves it.
Click here to buy This Book is Gay.
Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan
Harry and Craig, two 17-year-olds, prepare to set a new Guinness World Record by kissing for 32 hours in this novel.
Click here to buy Two Boys Kissing
Prince & Knight by Daniel Haack, illustrated by Stevie Lewis
An unexpected turn of events leads the noble prince and his brave knight to find true love in the midst of a most unexpected battle against a monstrous being.
Click here to buy Prince & Knight.
