With Republicans set to take control of the Michigan House in January, Democratic lawmakers are racing to pass bills that would protect LGBTQ-themed books in public libraries from censorship.
There has been a surge in challenges to library materials, especially books with LGBTQ themes or sexually explicit content. The issue received public attention in Michigan after the defunding of the Patmos Library in 2022, following debates over LGBTQ materials.
The proposed "Freedom to Read Act" was introduced in November, seeking to standardize policies for public library book challenges, Bridge Michigan reported.
It would limit who can request removals, require challengers to fully review materials, and mandate that library directors be the ones with final say. The exception would be when courts rule material as obscene.
The bills are supported by 23 Democratic co-sponsors and could face hearings in December before the legislative session ends.
If passed, the bills would create a statewide standard for handling book challenges, potentially reducing censorship and protecting libraries from legal threats.
Should the bills become law, Michigan's libraries could become a test case for balancing free speech and public accountability. However, with such limited time before Republicans take over, it's unclear if the legislation will advance.
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