By Brianna Wallen
News Editor
As October is LGBTQ History Month, communities and organizations across the campus are not only commemorating the vibrant tapestry of LGBTQ history, but also highlighting the growing trend of book bans that feature queer topics.
Students had the opportunity to view the Prejudice and Pride: LGBTQ+ Banned Book Showcase on Wednesday, Oct. 23.
The showcase displayed queer literature, including the top 10 banned books in the American Library Association.
This event allowed viewers to explore the elements of awareness, acceptance and understanding in both literature and the LGBTQ community.
“We wanted an event to highlight our campus celebration around and LGBTQ History Month, and it was interesting because we had talked about a banned book program,” Jay Henderson, the associate director of Multicultural Affairs, said. “
Henderson said that the showcase sparked discussions on the regions where and reasons why books get banned.
More LGBTQ books that have been banned from schools around the country and placed in the top three of most challenged books.
Dustin Rader, the university assistant for the Sexuality and Gender Equality Center said that he finds it cool to read banned books.
“The important thing about the banned books is they’re books that have been banned because they’re queer or because people think they’re queer,” Rader said. “They’re not being banned for having sexually explicit content.”
Regardless of the rationale behind the banning of books, Henderson believes the content that lies within all books are important.
“I think if something’s being created, like some human’s creating it somewhere, even if I don’t agree with it or we don’t agree with it, it’s their message that they’re trying to create, and that might be for some audience somewhere,” Henderson said.
Book banning also threatens other marginalized identities such as the history of Indigenous and black people, as well as certain religons.
Healthcare studies major Chrystophe Obiang Ze, a sophomore, said that he is against book bans.
“If it’s something that relates to rich history, it should not be banned because we deserve to know more about all these topics,” Obiang Ze said.
Highlighting the value of access to a range of perspectives in promoting acceptance and understanding in a marginalized group can elevate voices that are underrepresented.
Henderson said that he is planning to implement a library of banned books, which he refers to as “mini libraries,” in various identity centers.
Various banned books with different themes will be placed in offices such as the SAGE Center, the Interfaith Center and the Multicultural Center.
“Students will be able to just come in and read and have the opportunity to rent those books out,” Henderson said.
The mini libraries in the SAGE Center are not limited to individuals in the LGBTQ community.
All indidvuals are welcome to access these banned books.
Rader said that he hopes these books bring new people to the center to limit misinfromation about the LGBTQ community.
“There’s a lot of sterotypes about our community, and I think the easiest way to combat that is just to get to know us,” Rader said.
In an evolving world where literature is becoming restricted, featuring banned queer books can ensure that stories of the LGBTQ community are not forgotten.
Rader said, “It’s a really great way of seeing that this is the oppression that we’re facing.”
