A widening conservative movement in the United States has intensified efforts to remove books dealing with LGBTQ+ themes, gender identity, and race from public schools and libraries — prompting global alarm over freedom of expression and access to inclusive education.
The issue gained international attention this week at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where authors and publishers condemned what they described as a “coordinated attempt to erase minority voices.” According to Human Rights Watch, more than a dozen US states have introduced or passed laws restricting access to books featuring LGBTQ+ characters or discussing racism in American history.
Organisers of the book fair said the surge in book bans marks one of the most serious attacks on literary freedom in decades. “We are seeing the systematic silencing of authors from marginalised communities,” said a statement from the International Publishers Association. “Books that reflect the diversity of our societies are being treated as threats rather than tools for understanding.”
Education at the centre of the storm
In states such as Florida, Texas, and Missouri, local school boards have removed hundreds of titles deemed “inappropriate” or “politically divisive.” Many of these books feature LGBTQ+ protagonists, address themes of racial injustice, or discuss topics like gender equality and identity.
Advocates argue that these removals amount to state-sanctioned discrimination. PEN America, which tracks book bans across the US, reports that more than 4,000 titles have been challenged or removed in the past two years — a dramatic increase that coincides with the rise of parental-rights groups backed by conservative political networks.
Teachers and librarians have described the atmosphere as “fearful and chilling,” with some districts threatening penalties for staff who distribute unapproved materials. Several authors, including Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give) and George M. Johnson (All Boys Aren’t Blue), have publicly denounced the bans, calling them attempts to suppress conversations that reflect the lived experiences of young people today.
Global reaction and cultural resistance
The backlash has gone far beyond the United States. At the Frankfurt Book Fair, publishers and authors from across Europe, Latin America, and Africa signed a joint declaration defending the right to read and calling on governments to “protect literature from political manipulation.”
British and Irish writers — including several LGBTQ+ authors featured at the event — joined the protest, arguing that such censorship movements rarely stay confined to one country. “If it happens in the US, it can happen anywhere,” said one UK publisher. “Censorship is contagious.”
LGBTQ+ rights advocates warn that the campaign to remove queer and race-themed literature mirrors wider political efforts to curtail teaching about gender, sexuality, and diversity in schools. In Italy, for instance, new legislation has been introduced to restrict “gender ideology” lessons — echoing similar arguments made by conservative lawmakers in the US.
A fight over culture and identity
Supporters of the bans argue that parents should have greater control over what children read in schools. But opponents see these actions as part of a broader ideological battle over whose stories deserve to be told. “These aren’t just books — they are mirrors and windows,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone of the American Library Association. “Removing them tells LGBTQ+ and Black students that their experiences don’t belong.”
The ALA and several civil-rights organisations have vowed to challenge the bans through courts and advocacy campaigns. In some areas, community groups have begun creating “banned book libraries” in private homes and cafés to ensure access to affected titles.
The global implications
While the controversy is centred in the US, its implications are far-reaching. Publishing networks, international schools, and digital reading platforms are all confronting questions about how to protect inclusive content in increasingly polarised societies.
The debate has also raised awareness of the vital link between representation and wellbeing. Studies show that access to inclusive literature helps reduce stigma, improve self-esteem among LGBTQ+ youth, and foster empathy across communities. The removal of such materials, activists argue, risks turning back decades of progress.
As the world watches, the fight over books has become a fight over identity, belonging, and truth itself. And for many, that makes this battle not just an American issue — but a global one.
Kim Cockayne