The Rainbow Scare: Silencing Queer Voices

The Rainbow Scare: Silencing Queer Voices

In recent years a new Rainbow Scare has broken out. LGBTQ inclusive books are described as obscene and dangerous; queer adults are tarred as recruiting “confused” children”; and allied educators are called “groomers” and “pedophiles.” In this talk, Dr. Richard Price explores some of the history of the censorship of queer stories and how this trend is ultimately about one thing: eliminating queer voices, and thus queer people, from the public sphere.

About Richard Price

Dr. Richard Price (they/them) is Associate Professor of Political Science at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Their work focuses on the censorship of literature in schools and libraries over the past half century with a specific focus on attempts to censor LGTBQ inclusive material. Recently Richard published “Navigating a doctrinal grey area: Free speech, the right to read, and schools” on battles over Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home in the First Amendment Studies. They also blog intermittently at AdventuresinCensorship.com  They are currently working on a book tentatively titled The Perils of Queer Literature.

About Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week is an annual awareness campaign promoted by the American Library Association and Amnesty International, that celebrates the freedom to read, draws attention to banned and challenged books, and highlights persecuted individuals.