1. United States
2. Mo.
3. Letter

Today, I ask you to oppose HR 2616 as many librarians and Authors Against Book Bans (AABB) do. I cite the AABB’s words and urge you to fight against the suppressive effects the bill could have on school libraries and student education. Please defend and support the availability of diverse stories on library shelves and the freedom for every child to exercise their right to read. The proposed amendments to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 would withhold ESEA funding from schools that "teach or advance concepts related to gender ideology," as defined in section 2 of Executive Order 14168. This attempt to codify the inaccurate definitions outlined in that EO - which falsely equate gender ideology with gender identity - will have detrimental effects throughout our schools and society. While the bill claims to be about "protecting kids," this is a smoke screen we've seen before. HR 2616, as written, is an attempt to target and eliminate not just trans and nonbinary books, but any mention of the existence of gender non-conforming people. The proposed amendment narrows the perspectives permitted in school discourse and flouts the long-standing legal precedent that supports constitutionally protected speech in schools. In his opinion for 1982's Board of Education v. Pico, Justice William J. Brennan, Jr., wrote: "In sum, just as access to ideas makes it possible for citizens generally to exercise their rights of free speech and press in a meaningful manner, such access prepares students for active and effective participation in the pluralistic, often contentious society in which they will soon be adult members.” Students have an inalienable right to access literature with diverse ideas and perspectives for their personal and educational development. It would be particularly damaging to those students whose "fully internal and subjective sense of self" (90 Fed. Reg. 8615) is targeted and negated under this bill, who would no longer be able to see themselves reflected in books at school. Librarians and the AABB ask you to consider the potential ramifications of HR 2616 and prevent this bill from going any further. As a society, we should stay committed to doing everything in our power to defend the freedom to read.