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More on the Supreme Court decision + sign up for a free advocacy storytelling workshop today. No images? Click here  Dear Jenny, On Friday, June 27, 2025, the Supreme Court issued its ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor. The 6-3 majority decision allows parents of public-school students to opt their kids out of classes involving books with LGBTQ+ themes. Unite Against Book Bans stands with the educators, LGBTQ+ students and families, and the dissenting justices who argued that the ruling could lead to increased censorship and the erasure of LGBTQ+ identities from public schools. Parental opt-outs are meant to support parents’ rights over their own children’s education, but over the past several years we’ve seen ideological organizations weaponize parental opt-outs to encourage selective segregation of whole groups of people and ideas for entire communities. The coordinated misuse of opt-outs undermines the very value of public education – to bring us together, across our differences, as one community. Everyone, no matter where they live, what they look like, or who they love, deserves to see themselves and their experiences in books at our schools and in our libraries. Reading helps us understand ourselves, our world, and each other. Statements from Unite partners are linked below. This ruling increases the urgency of our work, particularly at the grassroots, community level. As we all feel the imperative to act in ways that will minimize harm, consider joining Unite and Everyday Advocacy for a free virtual workshop tomorrow, July 16 that will strengthen your ability to advocate for the use of diverse books in our schools and libraries, in alliance with fellow educators and community members. Read on for more from our partners, including some good news from Connecticut. As always, thank you for your support for the freedom to read! The Unite Against Book Bans team News and UpdatesUnite Against Book Bans’ Partners Respond to Mahmoud v. Taylor Supreme Court Ruling
Storytelling for Advocacy: Interactive Virtual Workshop (FREE) Storytelling for Advocacy will focus on ways to use storytelling as a tool to advocate for the use of diverse books in schools and libraries, in alliance with fellow educators and community members. Participants will be guided through a range of interactive narrative development activities, small group work, and planning for local implementation and amplification. Attendees will leave with actionable plans to put their learning into practice! 
Celebrating Youth Advocacy with DAYLO at ALA 2025 • Kate Selvitelli, National Education Association (Student Activist of the Year) and Diversity Awareness Youth Literacy Organization (DAYLO) DAYLO is a student-led pro-literacy group from South Carolina. Founded in 2021, DAYLO focuses on reading diversely as a form of advocacy, fostering empathy and understanding among students, and empowering their community service through inclusive literacy programs on and off campus. DAYLO was honored to attend the 2025 ALA Annual Conference to share more about their work, joined by thousands of library professionals, educators, publishers, authors, and intellectual freedom activists and advocates. 
What Connecticut’s New Freedom to Read Legislation Means • Connecticut Library Consortium In an era marked by rising book challenges and increasing efforts to censor educational and library materials, Connecticut has taken a bold and necessary step to protect the freedom to read. The recently passed legislation ensures that library collections, displays, and programs are curated by professionals, guided by clear policies, and safeguarded from political interference. This law does more than protect books; it affirms our commitment to intellectual freedom, community-informed policies, and the enduring value of libraries in a democratic society. 
Defending the Right to Read: Picture Book Summit Stands Against Book Bans • Picture Book Summit Picture books introduce young readers to new ideas, cultures, and perspectives, fostering empathy and understanding. Yet today, more and more picture books—particularly those exploring diverse identities, histories, and experiences—are being challenged or removed from shelves. The authors and illustrators who participate in Picture Book Summit—whether as keynote speakers, workshop leaders, or attendees—create and support books that celebrate inclusivity, curiosity, and free expression. That’s why Picture Book Summit is proud to unite with librarians, educators, and many other advocates and organizational partners as part of the Unite Against Book Bans coalition and have named Unite as their 2025 charity partner. 
Intellectual Freedom News • ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom Keep up on the latest intellectual freedom news by visiting the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom's blog. New posts that include information about censorship, legislation, and state and local governance are published each Friday. 
Please consider helping us expand our efforts to unite against book bans by reporting censorship, encouraging friends, family, and beyond to join the Unite Against Book Bans campaign, or donating today.    
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