PEN America Criticizes U.S. Human Rights Record at the U.N. Human Rights Committee
PEN America submitted a report to the United Nations Committee on Civil and Political Rights, criticizing the human rights record of the United States on free expression, discrimination, and… More
Anti-LGBTQ+ Campaigns Lead to Broad Crackdown on Free Expression
A broad attack on LGBTQ+ rights in Lebanon reflects a larger trend of attacks on free expression in the country and the region. More
It’s Not Just Florida: 4 New ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Laws Passed in 2023
Teachers in North Carolina, Arkansas, Iowa, and Indiana are beginning their school years newly stripped of their right to say “gay.” More
As Hollywood Strikes, PEN America Lends a Hand
As the writers’ strike stretches on and many film and television writers struggle to pay their bills, PEN America is creating a Screenwriters Emergency Financial Assistance Fund to address… More
Teachers and Librarians Describe a Climate of Fear Stoked By New Laws
A wave of educational censorship laws has created a climate of fear among teachers and librarians that has led to the departure of seasoned educators across the country. More
PEN America: ‘Distressing’ That Indiana Library Is Moving Teen Books to the Adult Section
PEN America expressed distress over the decision by Indiana’s Hamilton East Public Library to move more than 1,300 Young Adult books to its adult section under a new policy… More
These Books Are Banned in Urbandale, Iowa School District
PEN America sent an open letter to the Urbandale, Iowa school district to reverse an order to remove a list of nearly 400 titles. Here are some of the… More
PEN America’s Writers in the Schools Committee
Through PEN America's Writers in the Schools program, chaired by James Traub, about 20 writers volunteer to work in under-resourced schools in New York City. More
2023 PEN America World Voices Festival: Day 4 Highlights
PEN America's 2023 World Voices Festival wrapped up on Saturday with a blow-out closing night event worthy of four days of poignant conversations exploring the vitality of the written… More
2023 PEN America World Voices Festival: Day 3 Highlights
The third day of PEN America's 2023 World Voices Festival on Friday featured food, feminism, and deep dives on history in 12 events packed with lovers of literature. More