Forces opposing book banning are challenging a Virginia law that allowed obscenity claims against two books, one a LGBTQ memoir, “Gender Queen,” and a fantasy novel, “A Court of Mist and Fury.” A judge ruled that under the law, the books could be obscene for minors owing to sex scenes. Conservatives want the books removed from public libraries and private bookstores. (Virginia Mercury, July 6, 2022, by Graham Moomaw)
For the American Booksellers Association, May 25, 2022, David Grogan condemned the judge’s ruling the imposed an injunction against the sale of the books by Barnes & Noble and other booksellers. Noting that those pushing the ban were running for political office, Grogan wrote, “It is a bookseller’s constitutional right to carry and sell books as they see fit, without interference from the government; a reader’s right to decide for themselves what they read; and a parent’s or guardian’s right to discuss with their children what they’re reading.”