The Texas Library Association has released the program for its 2025 annual conference featuring topics like challenging obscene “book bans” and supporting “LGBT” advocacy.
On the first day of the conference, both school and public librarians can listen to a presentation titled “The Politics of Reading: Challenging Book Bans.” The presenters will discuss “strategies to challenge increasing book bans.”
The “ban” referred to is a Texas law called House Bill 900, also known as the READER Act, which went into effect in 2023 and prohibits sexually explicit materials in public school libraries.
Bonnie Wallace, who has traveled across the state raising awareness about obscene materials in school libraries and the children’s section of local libraries, told Texas Scorecard, “This is not about book banning, this issue that we fight is about book boundaries. We have to have boundaries for our children.”
Wallace also serves on the Llano County Library Advisory Board. Llano County is currently being sued by leftist activists for removing inappropriate materials from the children’s section.
Another presentation at the conference is called “Fighting Censorship in Llano and Beyond” and will focus on the Llano county library system. While the case is still working its way through the legal process, the presentation is supposed to update attendees.
“I am against sexual activity in the children’s section,” said Wallace. “Children do need boundaries. And who’s going to do it if we don’t do it? Then who? Nobody? All the other places that they [leftist activists] had threatened, they put the books back. So I’m proud of Llano. Very proud.”
The TLA will also offer a presentation called “Kidlit Quest: Spurring Activism and Social Justice through Children’s Literature” on ways to encourage K-12 students to pursue activism and social justice. “Infused with the hope that all voices have a place in this world, we’ll explore issues of equity, disability representation, and social justice,” the website reads.
Additional conference topics include one titled “Debunking Misinformation About Trans People & Identities.” The session summary states the speaker will discuss the difference between opinions and facts about gender-confused people and why the topic should matter to library workers.
Another session called “Reading the Rainbow” will highlight “prominent LGBT+ authors” whose target audiences are young adults. It will also share advice on how to advocate for greater “LGBT” representation and how to write literature that encourages students to explore their sexual identities. One session titled “Importance of Affirming Spaces for Youth” asserts that a “LGBTQ+” affirming library for youth could have “life-saving benefits.”
The TLA is the largest state library association in the U.S. and is an independent chapter of the American Library Association. Notably, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission cut ties with the ALA in 2023 over its radical ideologies.
The TLA also pays lobbyists to influence the Texas Legislature.
The library conference will take place on April 1-4 in Dallas.
Concerned Texans can contact their local school districts to find out if their librarians are attending.
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