They say their intentions are good. That they want to shield kids from so called “sexually explicit” materials. That they want to ensure our children have access to books aligned with their moral values.
Let’s think about the children, they say. Let’s protect the children!
But good intentions don’t always equate to good legislation – especially when the legislation tramples on our First Amendment rights.
Since the First Amendment was ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, these 45 words have been integral to democracy. It protects our fundamental rights to free expression and speech, to practice religion or no religion at all, and to protest our government, among other rights.
Upholding these rights is the sworn responsibility of our elected leaders. But the culture warriors among our state legislative assembly seem wholly unconcerned. And that’s extremely alarming!
Wyoming’s Joint Judiciary Committee recently approved a draft bill that would require public and school library employees to make sure books that some consider inappropriate or objectionable aren’t available to minors. Residents can sue libraries if these materials are not kept out of youth areas. Librarians, teachers and other state residents have said the bill could block access to a wide range of books, including ones that grapple with topics like LGBTQ+ and Two Spirit identity. Popular young adult books like “Gender Queer” and “Lawn Boy” would be among those moved out of the youth section of public libraries or removed entirely – that is, banned – from school libraries.
But parents already can – and should be – monitoring what their kids are reading. I’m a parent and that’s what I do. I genuinely feel that shielding my kids from “sexually explicit” materials is important. So I talk to my kids about what they’re reading and always take a look at the books they’re bringing home from the library. If there’s a book that’s not appropriate or that I don’t approve of, we’ll talk about it. Conversations like this with your kids can go a long way in helping them build their integrity!
But my definition of sexually explicit might be different from yours. That’s why substituting state control for parental judgement is not the answer. Government officials cannot impose their personal moral values on others. Moving a book to a less accessible section for its intended readers or removing it from a school library entirely, like what would be happening if this bill becomes law – is an example of censorship, pure and simple.
A free society is based on the principle that everyone has the right to decide what art or entertainment they want to view or create or the books they want – or do not want – to read. Just because one person doesn’t want their child to read a book doesn’t give them the right to restrict that book for everyone’s children. I want my kids to be able to read freely and be able to see themselves in the books they read.
Yes, protecting our children from the bad of the world is important. It’s what I do every day as a parent. But shielding them from the world completely is only going to hurt them. Our public and school libraries should be a thriving ground for freedom of speech and freedom of thought. They should not be turned into a space of control to support a political agenda under the lie of “parental rights.”
The ACLU’s opposition to this bill doesn’t mean we think protecting children or ensuring their education is guided by strong moral values isn’t important. It’s just that parents already have the right and ability to do so – and that everyone’s First Amendment rights must be upheld. What’s right for one family, after all, may not be right for another. That’s not up for the government to decide. Pushing back on censorship and advocating for the importance of keeping books —and therefore knowledge and ideas — available is something we’ll keep fighting for.
As we get closer to the 2026 legislative session, we know that attacks on our First Amendment rights won’t stop – and the ACLU of Wyoming is prepared to continue the fight for you. Things can change if people stand up against it. We hope you’ll join us.
A version of this column also appeared in the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.