Urban Librarians Unite joins the American Library Association and the library community in vehemently opposing H.R. 7661.
This bill doesn’t protect children — it defunds the libraries and educators who do. By broadly defining “sexually oriented material” to include content about gender identity and transgender experiences, H.R. 7661 weaponizes federal funding to erase LGBTQ+ young people from our shelves and programs. Urban librarians serve some of the most marginalized youth in this country. These kids deserve to see themselves in the books and resources we provide. We will not accept legislation that uses children as a shield to strip funding and silence communities. We stand against censorship. We stand for every patron.
Pornography is already illegal in schools and libraries. This bill is not filling a gap — it is creating one. By stripping away age-appropriate, factual information about bodies, identity, and health, H.R. 7661 leaves vulnerable young people without the knowledge they need to stay safe, recognize abuse, and understand themselves. Research is clear: access to accurate information protects children. Ignorance does not. This bill targets the very kids who most need our support and calls it protection. We refuse to let that stand.
If you value the freedom of students to find real information that reflects their own experience, call your member of Congress at the Capitol switchboard (202.224.3121) and ask them to oppose H.R. 7661.
