PEN America
Donate Now
  • Issues & Advocacy
    • Book Bans
    • Educational Censorship
    • Campus Free Speech
    • Disinformation
    • Online Abuse
    • Writers at Risk
    • Artists at Risk Connection (ARC)
    • Global Advocacy
    • NYC Literary Action Coalition
    • Next Gen PEN
  • Writers & Readers
    • Literary Awards
    • Grants & Fellowships
    • PEN Across America
    • Prison and Justice Writing
    • Workshops & Trainings
    • Writers in the Schools Committee
    • Children’s and YA Books Committee
    • Translation Committee
  • Festival & Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Event Series
    • Banned Books Week 2023
    • 2023 World Voices Festival
    • 2023 PEN America Literary Gala
    • World Press Freedom Day 2023
    • 2023 PEN America Literary Awards Ceremony
    • Authors’ Evenings
  • Read The Latest
    • Research & Reports
    • Take Action
    • Press Releases
    • Interviews & Features
    • PEN America Publications
  • Membership
  • About
    • PEN America at 100
    • About Us
    • PEN America Washington D.C.
    • PEN America Racial Equity Statement
    • Leadership and Staff
    • Trustees
    • Careers
    • Digital Archives
  • Give
    • Donate Now
    • Become a PEN America Young Patron
    • More Ways to Give
    • Shop
PEN America
Donate Now
  • Advocacy
    & Action
  • Writers
    & Readers
  • Festivals
    & Events
  • Issues & Advocacy
    • Book Bans
    • Educational Censorship
    • Campus Free Speech
    • Disinformation
    • Online Abuse
    • Writers at Risk
    • Artists at Risk Connection (ARC)
    • Global Advocacy
    • NYC Literary Action Coalition
    • Next Gen PEN
  • Writers & Readers
    • Literary Awards
    • Grants & Fellowships
    • PEN Across America
    • Prison and Justice Writing
    • Workshops & Trainings
    • Writers in the Schools Committee
    • Children’s and YA Books Committee
    • Translation Committee
  • Festival & Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Event Series
    • Banned Books Week 2023
    • 2023 World Voices Festival
    • 2023 PEN America Literary Gala
    • World Press Freedom Day 2023
    • 2023 PEN America Literary Awards Ceremony
    • Authors’ Evenings
  • Read The Latest
    • Research & Reports
    • Take Action
    • Press Releases
    • Interviews & Features
    • PEN America Publications
  • Membership
  • About
    • PEN America at 100
    • About Us
    • PEN America Washington D.C.
    • PEN America Racial Equity Statement
    • Leadership and Staff
    • Trustees
    • Careers
    • Digital Archives
  • Give
    • Donate Now
    • Become a PEN America Young Patron
    • More Ways to Give
    • Shop
  • Home

It’s Not Just Florida: 4 New ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Laws Passed in 2023

news
By: Samantha LaFrance | August 31, 2023

Teachers in North Carolina, Arkansas, Iowa, and Indiana are beginning their school years newly stripped of their right to say “gay.”  More

New Laws Target LGBTQ+ Students and Put Pressure on Teachers to Monitor and Report Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Schools

Press ReleaseAugust 24, 2023

“This is an alarming trend that threatens to turn teachers into the sexuality and gender police of public education, forcing them by law to monitor the most personal of… More

PEN America: Using Artificial Intelligence to Ban Books Only Makes the Problem Worse

Press ReleaseAugust 14, 2023

“There’s no good method for banning books, but the Mason City School District's decision to use AI technology to review and remove books is deeply misguided, undercuts free expression,… More

These Books Are Banned in Urbandale, Iowa School District

Advocacy
By: Samantha LaFrance | August 3, 2023

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

Hundreds of Books Targeted for Removal in Iowa School District Over New ‘Age Appropriate” Law

Press ReleaseAugust 3, 2023

“Our letter to Urbandale Community School District signals to district leaders and others across the state that ‘broad interpretations’ of vague laws threaten the freedom to read for students… More

Shut Down of Environmental Blog at U of Iowa After Lawmakers Reportedly Complained About It is “Profoundly Alarming,” Says PEN America

Press ReleaseMay 12, 2023

PEN America’s senior manager of free expression and education Kristen Shahverdian said: “It is nothing short of a tragedy that Jones’ blog has been shut down for political reasons.… More

teacher-on-map

For Educational Gag Orders, The Vagueness Is The Point

analysisApril 28, 2022

We find that instead of clarifying the laws, guidance documents have muddied the waters, further eroding academic freedom and students’ right to learn. More

stacks of newspapers

Trial for Journalist Who Covered Racial Justice Protests Set to Conclude

Press ReleaseMarch 10, 2021

A journalist in Iowa testified in her own defense Wednesday as she stands trial for charges related to her work covering last year’s racial justice protests. More

image of donald trump speaking

DARE: In Push for 2020 Election Security, Top Official Was Warned: Don’t Tell Trump

News DigestApril 24, 2019

The New York Times reports that the recently resigned Homeland Security secretary, responsible for cyberdefense, was told not to bring up preparations... More

Laura Belin

Iowa House’s Decision to Deny Influential Blogger Laura Belin a Press Pass a Disturbing Limitation on First Amendment Rights

Press ReleaseJanuary 28, 2019

"There is little obvious reason why the Iowa House might have denied Belin's press credential application, and it would be deeply concerning if their decision was motivated by wanting… More

Posts navigation

1 2 next

Join PEN America Today

Defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture.

Subscribe

Get updates on events, literary awards, free expression issues, and global news.

 
 
  • What's New
Band of Bestselling Authors Stand Against Book Bans in Florida and Nationwide
Concern Raised Over Cancellation of Panel at Anthropology Meeting
Fear that New Texas Policy Will Limit Books Allowed in Prisons
Freedom to Read statement
Banned Books Week 2023 Open Letter and Call to Action: We Believe in the Freedom to Read

Alert Us

Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?

PEN America
588 Broadway, Suite 303
New York, NY 10012
T (212) 334-1660 F (212) 334-2181
PEN America Los Angeles
1370 N. St Andrews Place
Los Angeles, CA 90028
T (323) 607-1867
PEN America Washington, D.C.
1100 13th Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20005
Donate Today
 
Copyright © 2023 PEN America. All rights reserved.   |   Privacy Policy