Legislators in the state of Iowa are actively trying to erase the stories of LGBTQ+ people by removing books from public schools and denying access to important, life-saving stories for youth. People that try to ban books know that books are powerful and are a danger to their hegemonic systems and strict societal norms, which is why they want these texts removed. The message is clear: “Your story doesn’t matter. YOU don’t matter.” Now is the time to create a counter-narrative to this hateful message and support our LGBTQ+ youth.
Some LGBTQ+ books removed from Iowa schools that should be on your TBR list include Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazrmian, All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson, Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo, Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender and Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz. These outstanding novels share stories about the evolution of identity, the power of found family, the importance of queer joy and how to navigate love, friendship and heartbreak.
Teen graphic novels have caught the critical eye of people advocating for book bans. Challenged books in the genre include the Heartstopper series by Alice Oseman, Check, please! by Ngozi Ukazu, Homebody by Theo Parish and Cheer Up! Love and Pompoms by Crystal Frasier.
Perhaps more than any other title, the 2019 graphic novel Gender Queer: A Memoir by Maia Kobabe is used as an example of “pornography” by book banners in legislative testimony. In reality, it depicts the journey of a young adult navigating their sexuality and gender identity in a supportive, positive way that can help other young adults who feel lost.
Another title removed from some Iowa schools is Flamer by Mike Curato, in which the main character, like many LGBTQ+ youth, struggles with his queer identity and contemplates self-harm. The story is filled with hope for young people that they are not alone and will survive even the darkest times. There is no doubt that this book has and will save lives.
This June, remember that the first Pride was a protest, and one of the ways to combat the removal of LGBTQ+ books from Iowa schools is to read them as an act of resistance, and an act of love to LGBTQ+ youth.
Emily Slattery Phillips is a youth services librarian for the Des Moines Public Library after a career as an art educator in the public schools. An obsessive reader, books have always been a home for her, and a place to explore and learn. This article was originally published in Little Village’s June 2025 issue.
