Daniel Radcliffe, Jinkx Monsoon Among Stars Contributing To Effort to Combat Anti-LGBTQ+ Book Bans
It Takes a Group of Celebrities to Back LGBTQ Books in the Classroom
UPDATED: More than 30 celebrities, including Harry Potter alumnus Daniel Radcliffe and Doctor Who alumna Jinkx Monsoon, are standing up to fight the surge of LGBTQ+ book bans in America. Here are items or experiences that these celebs are donating to benefit Pride and Less Prejudice — a non-profit organization that mails LGBTQ-inclusive books to classrooms around the U.S.
The PLP will host its fourth annual virtual auction, “Banned Together,” from Thursday, Sept. 26 to Sunday, Sept. 29 to raise money for schools to purchase books that highlight diversity and inclusion.
Celebrities Offer Auction Contributions
The auction features a plethora of fun celebrity-donated items and experiences Here are a few contributions worth mentioning
Singer Janelle Monáe signed and personalized book
A signed photo of Tony Award-winning actor Daniel Radcliffe
Tickets to Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme Holiday Show with Meet & Greet
An online meet and greet with transgender actor Nicole Maines.
Big Freedia signed vinyl.
Celebrity donors so far have included comedian Margaret Cho, musician Sara Bareilles, tennis great Billie Jean King and drag queens Latrice Royale and BenDeLaCreme.
Fighting the Good Fight for Free Expression with Banned Books Week
The auction will happen to fall within Banned Books Week, an annual event taking place now and through Sept. 29, which highlights the current book challenges in our country. In 2021, book bans have increased, especially against books containing LGBTQ+ characters and themes or written by authors of color. According to PEN America, thousands of U.S. classrooms and libraries banned over 3362 books in 2023 that censored more than 1500 titles from about 1400 authors.
“Seeing yourself and your family portrayed in the books you read is key,” said Lisa Forman, who founded PLP.
The Mission of Pride and Less Prejudice
Launched in 2019, Pride and Less Prejudice has helped lift more than $250,000·and delivered more than 16,000 LGBTQ-inclusive books to Pre-K through 3rd-grade classrooms across all Congeries. The goal of this year’s auction is to help raise another $20,000 which will provide 1,600 more books to our schools and ensure young children see themselves in the stories they read.
Celebrity Voices for the Cause
RELATED: Big Freedia Calls for Equality with New ‘Chasing Rainbows’ dance after she and a group of other celebs rallied support for the auction, including convincing Warner Bros. to donate Batwoman screen used props (you can bid on those here), Freedia said, “Growing up as a gay boy in New Orleans during the ’80s, having such access to a book that featured LGBTQ+ characters would have made an immense difference in my life.”
Conclusion: Change Requires All Of Us
Together, these celebrities are a reckoning: against book bans and censorships. With their help, students in every state of the U.S. have LGBTQ-inclusive books in schools, where diversity is respected and embraced! It is a fun and easy way to support this important issue—and do your part in the battle for free expression and inclusion in education!