American Library Association Helped Draft Bill Cracking Down On Bans Of Sexually Explicit Books

The former president of the American Library Association (ALA) said the organization helped “develop” legislation intended to combat attempts to remove sexually explicit books from school libraries, according to documents obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The Right To Read Act, reintroduced by Democratic Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed and Democratic Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva in April, ensures students can access “culturally diverse and inclusive materials,” including sexually explicit books, as well as granting liability protections for librarians who curate these materials. The bill is explicitly intended to rebuff efforts by parents and Republican lawmakers to remove sexually explicit content from school libraries, according to a press release from the lawmakers.

“The Right to Read Act is a direct response to those efforts and reaffirms that First Amendment rights apply to school libraries, given the alarming trend of book banning, and protects school librarians and other educators in carrying out their duty to protect students’ right to read,” Grijalva said in the press release.

Lessa Pelayo-Lozada, the 2022-2023 ALA president, wrote on April 10, 2023, that the ALA helped “develop” the Right to Read Act during a discussion in an online forum for ALA members called “ALA Connect.”