Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Trans books banned in children's library sections

191 replies

BeeSouriante · 04/07/2025 13:40

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6257p2vry3o

Including kids books that just acknowledge the existence of trans people.

Obviously, this is a local Reform council, but would you call for a ban of books about trans people across the board?

Rows of books on shelves. The books are all different colours.

Kent council bans transgender books in children’s library section

KCC says the move came after a "concerned member of the public" contacted them.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6257p2vry3o

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
OldCrone · 04/07/2025 13:45

Why do children need to learn about transsexuals, in your opinion?

helpfulperson · 04/07/2025 13:46

Banning books never turns out well. Where do you draw the line? There are plenty of people who think books mentioning same sex relationships should be banned.

ducksinarow123 · 04/07/2025 13:46

The worry is though that it start with banning trans books, but where does it end? Does it then ban gay books? Multi-racial families? Books about strong independent woman?
I am deeply against banning books, if you don’t want your children reading them - just don’t pick them up and read them to your kids. I find it very uncomfortable with that freedom of choice taken away

OldCrone · 04/07/2025 13:48

Some topics just aren't suitable for children.

Merrymouse · 04/07/2025 13:48

There is no explanation of which books have been removed from circulation, so I don’t think it’s possible to comment.

Theeyeballsinthesky · 04/07/2025 13:52

Merrymouse · 04/07/2025 13:48

There is no explanation of which books have been removed from circulation, so I don’t think it’s possible to comment.

This! I’d like to know exactly which books

SkeletonBatsflyatnight · 04/07/2025 13:54

I had a brief look to see what books were removed. The BBC doesn't mention titles but Kent online does (The Autistic Trans guide to life). The book itself states it's aimed at adults so no...I wouldn't expect to find it in the children's section or anywhere young children could easily access it (and my views would be the same regarding any book aimed at adults). Apparently it has just been relocated within the library so not burnt or banned, just appropriately shelved.

Tiredofwhataboutery · 04/07/2025 13:55

I think it’s really unhealthy to pretend people can change sex / born in the wrong body or even gender stereotyping for young children. Either sex can play football or play with dolls or dress head to toe in pink glitter without the need for labels, surely?

BettyBooper · 04/07/2025 13:56

The books haven't been banned, they've been taken out of the children's section.

So now they are... Just like most of the other books in library.

If people specifically want to read them they can. Just not in the children's section.

OP posts:
Aaron95 · 04/07/2025 14:00

Theeyeballsinthesky · 04/07/2025 13:52

This! I’d like to know exactly which books

Or even if the libraries have any such books in the childrens section?

BeeSouriante · 04/07/2025 14:01

Meant to quote 'helpful person' and was responding to them. Silly weather is addling my brain =(

OP posts:
KerryAnnSalford · 04/07/2025 14:01

Utterly ridiculous. Haven’t even stipulated any specific books, basically just anything along the lines of “some people are different, please do not bully them”

Ddakji · 04/07/2025 14:05

helpfulperson · 04/07/2025 13:46

Banning books never turns out well. Where do you draw the line? There are plenty of people who think books mentioning same sex relationships should be banned.

Appropriately curating the children’s section of the library isn’t the same as banning books, as you well know.

I thought this was a very pertinent point made by this councillor. (Apols while pic is uploaded.)

Trans books banned in children's library sections
KerryAnnSalford · 04/07/2025 14:05

OldCrone · 04/07/2025 13:48

Some topics just aren't suitable for children.

Why? Just how in depth do you think these books are going?

Exact same stuff was said about books about gay and lesbian people.

Bigots that are utterly obsessed with this topic at this point just can’t help but sexualise people’s identities for some reason, that’s far more perverse than teaching children that we have a diverse society.

HonestAquaMember · 04/07/2025 14:07

OldCrone · 04/07/2025 13:45

Why do children need to learn about transsexuals, in your opinion?

So people can't use 'cis' on mumsnet because it's a slur for women, but you can use slurs against other people?

Ddakji · 04/07/2025 14:08

KerryAnnSalford · 04/07/2025 14:05

Why? Just how in depth do you think these books are going?

Exact same stuff was said about books about gay and lesbian people.

Bigots that are utterly obsessed with this topic at this point just can’t help but sexualise people’s identities for some reason, that’s far more perverse than teaching children that we have a diverse society.

So you think that a book like Grandad’s Pride, a picture book aimed at 4-7 year olds, that depicts adult men in fetish gear and women with self harm scars, is appropriate? Why?

TeenToTwenties · 04/07/2025 14:09

@BeeSouriante Please can you go back to other threads you have started and respond to questions? I am still waiting on a thread to hear what rights teans people don't have that others do.

lemonraspberry · 04/07/2025 14:09

children should not be reading adult books. Same reason they don’t watch explicit, violent films etc, it’s why people try not to swear in front of them.

allow children their childhood

TheOtherRaven · 04/07/2025 14:11

KerryAnnSalford · 04/07/2025 14:01

Utterly ridiculous. Haven’t even stipulated any specific books, basically just anything along the lines of “some people are different, please do not bully them”

Oh let's be realistic, we've all seen those books. It's not nice, innocent stuff. The one of Grandad at Kink Pride springs to mind.

They've not been taken away and burned, just moved out of where children would stumble over politicised, manipulative messaging by an increasingly dodgy lobby's representatives.

ScholesPanda · 04/07/2025 14:13

Children's libraries should be appropriately curated, but a blanket ban smacks of censorship.

KerryAnnSalford · 04/07/2025 14:13

TheOtherRaven · 04/07/2025 14:11

Oh let's be realistic, we've all seen those books. It's not nice, innocent stuff. The one of Grandad at Kink Pride springs to mind.

They've not been taken away and burned, just moved out of where children would stumble over politicised, manipulative messaging by an increasingly dodgy lobby's representatives.

Whilst I believe that to be an extreme example that’s probably not even in the majority, if any, children’s sections, remove the specific books? Where is the need to remove every single book related to trans people? Most of which, are completely innocent

also I don’t see what a grandad at kink pride book has to do with the topic of trans people

IllustratedDictionaryOfTheDoldrums · 04/07/2025 14:13

There have been a lot of children's books recently that have incredibly regressive when it comes to sex and gender, amongst other things. It may have been a safeguarding issue. Difficult to comment without knowing exactly what the books were.

KerryAnnSalford · 04/07/2025 14:14

Ddakji · 04/07/2025 14:08

So you think that a book like Grandad’s Pride, a picture book aimed at 4-7 year olds, that depicts adult men in fetish gear and women with self harm scars, is appropriate? Why?

What has that extreme example got to do with trans people?

Swipe left for the next trending thread