The law safeguards librarians and readers from viewpoint discrimination, balancing community needs with free speech rights.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has signed the «California Freedom to Read Act» (Assembly Bill 1825), which prohibits state-funded public libraries from removing or refusing to purchase books based on their «views, ideas, or opinions», LGBTQ Nation reports.
«Proponents of book banning disproportionately target materials that represent the voices and experiences of LGBTQ individuals and communities of colour», stated the law’s author, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi (D). «We must combat this movement to ensure that Californians have access to diverse perspectives from all backgrounds, ideas, and beliefs».
