Ocean Vuong Instagram – UPDATE ON TEXAS BOOK BAN:
Thank you so much for the outpouring of love and support after the Conroe ISD book ban last month, a ban that actually began in 2023 (as reported by a nonprofit tracking book bans—slide 2). I have been informed by so many community members fighting this fight (some for years now) on the ground and the situation is even grimmer than I imagined. There are concerted, conservative movements across the country to take over local school boards and control the material folks have access to. It is savvy, well organized, funded, and often using loopholes and euphemisms like “circulation” or “logistical” issues to effectively ban books without repercussions or resistance. But the young people on the ground are paying attention and keeping their communities accountable.
My incredible publisher @penguinpress has donated copies of my novel to @thewoodlandspride , who will distribute them to anyone in the Conroe area who wants one. Copies will also be available at the nearby LGBTQ youth org, There’s A room at Our Table. I hope the donation of these books to Woodlands Pride’s brand new library (which showcases many other banned books) will be seen for what it is: not just an act of corrective survival—but as a celebration of who we are, what we stand for, and how we choose to heal and hold one another.
Special thanks to @cameronjsamuels and @studentsengagedtx for leading this fight long before my book was banned. Ever grateful for your courage. 🌱✨ | Posted on 02/Jul/2024 21:16:35
