Tennesseans sought to remove hundreds of books from library shelves in 2023, many of them containing LGTBQ+ characters or themes.
‘The reason we can’t breathe’: Nashville Youth Poet Laureate takes on book bans and arming teachers
Nashville Youth Poet Laureate Jadyn Marshall doesn’t shy away from her frustrations with Tennessee policymakers. Her writing confronts topics like books bans, arming teachers and silencing young people.
Book bans are expanding from schools into public libraries in Sumner County. The group behind the shift is contributing to a culture of fear.
Library board members appointed by Sumner County Constitutional Republicans have deeply influenced local libraries, including passing a policy that critics say would censor collections across the county.
Book ban advocates could soon take over Sumner County’s school board. Behind the movement is a far-right political faction with a decade-long grudge.
The Sumner County Constitutional Republicans already hold a majority of seats on the County Commission. They hope to flip the school board in the upcoming March 5 elections, with endorsed candidates running in four of the six contests.
Tennessee’s legislature made waves in 2023. Here’s a review of the year’s top stories in state politics.
Tennessee politics got national attention in 2023. There were protests, expulsions, culture wars and one official’s interesting social media activity brought to light. Below is a list of some of the top events from the year.
Sumner County school board votes to keep a challenged book in schools
The Sumner County Schools board voted not to ban a book during Tuesday night’s meeting. The challenged book — the graphic memoir “Hey, Kiddo” — depicts the author’s childhood living with his grandparents, a missing father and a mother suffering from addiction.
Rutherford County’s library system bans four books with LGBTQ+ themes after a Murfreesboro ‘decency’ ordinance
Rutherford County’s Library System board voted to remove a total of four books from its shelves during a meeting Monday evening. All of them were young adult books that included LGBTQ+ characters or themes.
Sumner County’s newest school board member won’t be chosen by voters, and some believe it’ll go to an ultraconservative
A death has left a vacancy on the Sumner County School Board. But rather than voters, it’s County Commissioners who will decide who fills the role.
How will Tennessee’s textbook commission handle calls for book bans? WPLN obtained a draft of the guidance.
A Tennessee commission in charge of approving textbooks is also getting the final say on what library books get banned. WPLN News obtained a draft copy of how they’ll handle those challenges.
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