According to the ALA, in 2023, Americans challenged more books than ever, with over 4,200 titles requested for removal from public and school libraries. This surge is driven by new state policies, such as Florida's law limiting discussions on sexual orientation or gender identity in many grades and a Missouri law making it a misdemeanor to share 'explicit sexual material' in schools. As a result, librarians are pulling out books to comply with these laws.

Books by or about LGBTQ+ individuals are frequently targeted. Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom, noted that challenges often arise because books feature gay characters or LGBTQ themes, even without sexual content.

This modern wave of censorship echoes past efforts to suppress queer texts. Similarities between contemporary and medieval censorship of LGBTQ+ materials are noticeable; both share a 'Don't Say Gay' mindset, rooted in the belief that even discussing such themes poses a threat to children and society.

Historical Censorship of LGBTQ+ Themes

Beginning around the 11th century, European theologians and writers labeled homosexual desire and acts as 'sodomy,' a broad term for various sexual and gendered sins 'against nature.' This so-called 'unmentionable vice' was seen as a moral sin that needed to be suppressed.

During the 11th and 12th centuries, reform movements within the church portrayed sodomy as a threat to social stability because it disrupted gender hierarchies. Intimate relationships between male clergy members were believed to foster corruption and homosexual acts were considered dangerous for reversing expected gender roles.

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This fear led to the silencing of homoerotic and homosexual materials. While some texts accused of promoting sodomy were destroyed, more common methods of censorship included erasure and modification. Medieval authors often excluded references to homosexual intimacy from adaptations of Greek and Roman history.

In addition, some historians have overlooked or obscured evidence of medieval queer history. However, records of medieval sex workers, such as Eleanor Rykener, reveal how individuals defied gender and sexuality norms, often without punishment. Religious texts also contain examples of gender and sexual diversity. For example, Julian of Norwich's "Showings" described visionary experiences where God appeared as male and female.

Despite efforts to suppress diverse expressions of gender, sex, and desire, medieval narratives that challenged conventional boundaries still existed.

Modern Parallels

At present, the increasing number of book challenges and restrictive laws echo historical attempts to silence LGBTQ+ voices. Michael Bronski, Professor of Media and Activism in Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality, attributed the rise in book challenges to political and social tensions stemming from the rapid acceptance of LGBTQ people. He described recent book bans, drag show bans, and attacks on abortion and trans youth as conservative attempts to halt this progress.

Bronski believed these efforts aimed to erase the visible presence of queer people, using legal tactics to counter rapid social acceptance. He noted that these actions create societal uncertainty and affect perceptions of the LGBTQ community.

The drive to remove books featuring LGBTQ+ characters or themes reflects a long-standing resistance to diverse perspectives. Understanding history can shed light on current debates about censorship and the importance of protecting intellectual freedom.

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