H.R. 7661 and H.R. 2616, both currently awaiting votes in the U.S. House of Representatives, threaten the freedom to read, the freedom to learn, and the safety of transgender and nonbinary young people.

Together, these bills would restrict discussions of gender identity in schools, discourage educators from acknowledging the existence of transgender and nonbinary people, and create new avenues for censorship under the banner of "parental rights." As we know here in Louisiana, bills with this type of vague and sweeping language have a chilling effect on classrooms, libraries, and educational programs. If passed, 2616 & 8705 will result in schools removing books and avoiding topics that could trigger complaints or jeopardize federal funding.

We have seen this pattern before: when lawmakers target discussions of LGBTQ+ identities, books featuring LGBTQ+ characters, history, and experiences are often among the first to be challenged or removed. These bills represent a coordinated effort to erase transgender and nonbinary youth from public life and deny all students access to diverse stories and perspectives.

Book bans don't begin with books—they begin with laws that make educators and librarians afraid to provide information. Contact your Representative today and urge them to vote NO on H.R. 7661 and H.R. 2616. Every young person deserves to see themselves reflected in the books they read and to learn in an environment free from censorship.