Unwritten Harm: The Mental Health Impact of Censorship on Sexual Freedom
May 22, 2025 • 1:00 pm ET
Join us for an insightful panel discussion on the growing trend of book banning and its profound impact on LGBTQ+ lives, sexual freedom, and mental health. As efforts to restrict access to LGBTQ+ inclusive literature intensify, the harmful effects on mental well-being become increasingly evident. This panel will explore how book bans deprive LGBTQ+ individuals—especially queer youth—of critical resources that promote self-understanding, emotional resilience, and sexual freedom. Experts will discuss the mental health consequences of censorship, highlighting how the erasure of diverse sexualities and gender identities can contribute to feelings of isolation, shame, and anxiety. The conversation will also focus on how access to inclusive literature fosters self-affirmation, supports mental health, and empowers individuals to live authentically. We will examine the challenges faced by educators, activists, and allies in defending the right to access books that uplift LGBTQ+ lives and champion sexual freedom. Together, we’ll advocate for pathways to protect and preserve access to literature that supports the mental health and well-being of marginalized communities.
