Oregon’s House of Representatives passed a bill last week meant to protect books authored by LGBTQ+ people and other marginalized groups from being banned for discriminatory reasons.
Senate Bill 1098, passed by a 34-21 vote and now heads to Governor Tina Kotek’s desk where it’s predicted she will sign it. When enacted, the law will prohibit school libraries from removing or banning books or other materials because they “include a perspective, study or story of, or are created by, any individual or group against whom discrimination is prohibited under” the state’s anti-discrimination in education law, according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle
The bill was approved by Oregon’s state Senate in March and moved to the House of Representatives where State Rep. Cyrus Javadi, the only Republican who voted in the bill’s favor, spoke on the house floor about how reading helped his own gay son understand his identity, according to LGBTQ Nation.
“You can remove a book if the content is too graphic,” Javadi said. “You can remove it if it’s not age-appropriate, but you can’t remove it just because the author is gay or Muslim or Black or because the story centers someone that makes you uncomfortable.”
The bill provides protections for books based on discrimination by race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, age and disability. “Let’s not teach our kids that their stories are too controversial to belong on the shelf,” said Javadi.
However, the bill would still allow parents, guardians and school staff to file complaints about textbooks, library material or course materials. Those wishing to complain about materials must follow specific guidelines, making a formal written request to challenge the material. A school or district committee must then decide whether the challenge was made based on the book’s depiction or authorship by members of a protected class under Oregon’s anti-discrimination in education law. If the committee agrees to remove materials, they must provide a written explanation ahead of removal.
According to the Oregon Capital Chronicle, 151 books were challenged in Oregon’s schools and libraries last year. The American Library Association reports that the most challenged books across the U.S. have been those with LGBTQ+ characters or themes related to sexual assault.
Republican lawmakers in red states continue to expand censorship while states like Colorado, California, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington, Illinois and more have passed legislation in opposition to censorship.
