We can all agree that reading is what? FUNdamental! Ensuring that your children have access to stories about the diversity of the world around them is key to fostering empathy, self-confidence, and critical thinking.

Despite this, a growing number of book bans have risen around the country targeting material about race, gender, and sexuality. In 2024, the American Library Association (ALA) tracked 821 attempts to censor library materials and services—affecting 2,452 unique titles. Even for those who live in areas unaffected by book bans, finding diverse books and working with school administrators to make them accessible can be its own challenge.

But as parents, educators, and community members, we have a unique opportunity to use our voice to protect our children’s freedom to read in and out of the classroom.

The spectrum of LGBTQ+ inclusivity is wide and can range from maintaining an explicit anti-LGBTQ+ bias to incorporating LGBTQ+ related issues into everyday policies and curriculum. Assess your school’s policies, communications, and marketing materials to understand where your school falls. 

Often, a school may lack LGBTQ+ curriculum simply because they don’t have the resources to start. That’s where you can come in! 

Our friends at GLSEN host “Rainbow Library,” a program that sends LGBTQ+ affirming K-12 text sets to schools across select states for free. To accompany this resource, they have a number of lesson plans you can share with educators. 

Similarly, Open Books sends LGBTQ+ stories to school libraries across the United States. You can nominate any school in your area to receive books from Open Books anytime! 

For whatever reason, you and your family might struggle to access LGBTQ+ friendly books from your local schools and libraries — even with the resources above. To help ensure that LGBTQ+ people have access to books and resources that represent their community, the Queer Liberation Library provides free library memberships and access to digital LGBTQ+ content no matter where you live. 

Adding access to LGBTQ+ friendly books is just the first step to creating an LGBTQ+ friendly classroom. For more tips on the role you can play in creating safe, inclusive schools, check out our 3-part toolkit, “Advocating for Inclusive Schools.” 

We also know that creating safe spaces in schools isn’t always possible — but that doesn’t mean our work should stop! Explore our resource on creating safe LGBTQ+ spaces in and out of the classroom, from “alt prom” to movie nights and everything in between. 

We’ve talked about inclusivity in schools working on a spectrum. If you find yourself on the more explicitly anti-LGBTQ+ side of the spectrum, know this: the people pushing anti-LGBTQ+ policies and book bans forward are a small but vocal group. It’s up to us to counter those voices in school board meetings, state legislatures, city councils, and local media. 

Just beginning your advocacy journey? Learn how to start the conversation and get all the fundamental advocacy tips with Family Equality.

Change happens at every level and on every scale — starting with school and library board meetings. If your school or library board is considering challenging certain titles, review United Against Book Bans’ talking points, or their specific “Book Resumes” for bans on specific titles, and follow PFLAG’s guide to testifying at local board meetings today. 

You can also take things a step further and be the change you want to see in the world by running for your local school board! CPD Action has a helpful toolkit with everything you need to know to run an effective campaign. 

All elected officials, from school board members to state legislators, are elected to represent the voices of the people — aka you! This means you can, and should, reach out and advocate for the policies you want to see enacted in your school district. 

To find your elected officials, use United Against Book Bans’ “Find Your Legislator” tool. As you talk to your elected official, you can use their talking points or the National Coalition Against Censorship’s (NCAC) template letters to school board members.  

All elected officials, from school board members to state legislators, are elected to represent the voices of the people — aka you! This means you can, and should, reach out and advocate for the policies you want to see enacted in your school district. 

To find your elected officials, use United Against Book Bans’ “Find Your Legislator” tool. As you talk to your elected official, you can use their talking points or the National Coalition Against Censorship’s (NCAC) template letters to school board members.  

If you’re already encountering book challenges in your district, you are not alone. 

One of the simplest ways to help is to report book banning attempts to the American Library Association and United Against Book Bans. 

Sometimes, book bans can violate your child’s legal rights by creating a hostile learning environment for them. That’s where Title IX—a law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally-funded schools—comes in. While we’ve seen a lot of changes under the Trump Administration, Title IX is still the law, and, as such, schools have certain obligations to fulfill under it. Our team put out an update on Title IX in early 2025 that might be helpful to read.

If you’re looking for additional resources to help navigate the current school landscape, consider…