The PEN Ten: An Interview with Emerson Whitney
I see life through the lens of writing to the extent that I’m not exactly sure what life is if not a book? More
Pride Month: A Banned Book Reading List
The last two years have seen unmitigated attacks on LGBTQ+ content in public school libraries, with 26% of banned books featuring LGBTQ+ characters and themes. For Pride month, PEN… More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Amelia Possanza
Archiving is a community act, and we will need many, many generations of future archivists to protect these stories from censorship, to make them immortal. More
6/22 Miami Screening of No Straight Lines Film–About Five Influential Queer Comic Book Artists—in Pride Month Celebration Hosted by PEN Across America and Artists at Risk Connection
The screening will be followed by a talkback moderated by acclaimed film critic and arts programmer Juan Barquin, featuring the film’s director Vivian Kleiman and comic book creator and… More
Twelve PEN America 2023 Emerging Voices Fellows Selected from Largest Applicant Pool Ever for Third Consecutive Year
Jared Jackson, director, Literary Programs and Emerging Voices, said: “This year’s amazing cohort of fellows explore issues and ideas including disability, acceptance, immigration, resistance, sex, gender, colonialism, industrialization, surveillance,… More
New Report: 28% Rise in School Book Bans Over First Half of 2022-23 School Year
“The heavy-handed tactics of state legislators are mandating book bans, plain and simple,” said Suzanne Nossel, Chief Executive Officer of PEN America. “Some politicians like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis… More
Disruption and Harassment at Riley Gaines Speaking Event Made a “Mockery” of Free Speech
“What happened at SFSU was a disaster,” said Kristen Shahverdian, senior manager in free expression and education. “Physical intimidation or violence is never an acceptable response to speech, no… More
Frequently Banned Books Featuring Transgender Stories
In national efforts to ban books and restrict content on LGBTQ+ characters and themes, stories on transgender individuals and characters are commonly challenged and banned, making up about 9%… More