RSVP: Book Banning and the Fight for Inclusion

RSVP NOW

Not ? Click here.

First name*

Last name*

Email address*

ZIP Code*

Postal code

Mobile phone*

By completing this form, I am joining the ACLU’s People Power volunteer program and agreeing to receive emails, calls, or texts from the ACLU, its state affiliates, and their representatives about ways to take action and support the ACLU organizations. To learn more about how we use your data, please see our Privacy Policy.

This LGBTQ+ history month, join us for a panel conversation focused on the growing book bans and classroom censorship efforts to target LGBTQ+ authors, educators, and students. The 2022 midterm elections are a prime opportunity to demand that candidates for office reject efforts to censor conversations about race, gender, and sexual orientation.

Right to Learn: How Book Bans and Classroom Censorship Efforts Impact LGBTQ Authors, Educators, and Students and How You Can Help
Tuesday, October 25th, 6pm ET / 3pm PT
Zoom link provided in confirmation email

Featured panelists:

Kelly Jensen (she/her) - Kelly is a former librarian and an editor at Book Riot, where she's covered censorship for nearly a decade. She's the editor/author of (DON'T) CALL ME CRAZY: 33 VOICES START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH and the editor/author of HERE WE ARE: FEMINISM FOR THE REAL WORLD.
Mark Oshiro (they/he) - Mark Oshiro is the award-winning author of the young adult books ANGER IS A GIFT (2019 Schneider Family Book Award), EACH OF US A DESERT, and INTO THE LIGHT, as well as their middle grade books THE INSIDERS and YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE, DAVID BRAVO. They are also the co-author (with Rick Riordan) of the upcoming PERCY JACKSON novel centered on Nico di Angelo and Will Solace. When not writing, they are trying to pet every dog in the world.
Lev L.C. Rosen - Lev Rosen writes books for people of all ages, most recently Camp, which was a best book of the year from Forbes, Elle, and The Today Show, amongst others and is a Lambda finalist, an ALA Rainbow List Top Ten and is being adapted into a film directed by and starring Billy Porter. His most recent book, Lavender House, just came out on Oct 18th and next year he has three more books out: The Lion's Legacy, The Bell in the Fog, and Emmett. He Lives in NYC with his husband and a very small cat.
Stephana Ferrell (she/her) - Stephana is the co-founder of the Florida Freedom to Read Project, an organization that aims to bring together parent-led groups from across the state of Florida and unite our voices to protect every student’s right to access information and ideas. She is the mom of two children.

Moderated by Gillian Branstetter (she/her) - Communications Strategist at the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project and LGBTQ & HIV Project.

Accessibility and Reasonable Accommodations: The ACLU strives to create inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to fully engage with its programming. These events will include real time captioning and ASL interpretation. If you would like to request another reasonable accommodation to better participate in this event, please reach out promptly to [email protected].

This conversation is presented by the ACLU, Hachette Book Group, Lambda Literary, and We Need Diverse Books.