Shall I Read You a Story? Book Banning of LGBTQIA Children’s/YA Titles

Thursday, October 8, 2026 | 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT | Virtual via Zoom

In recognition of Banned Books Week, The Publishing Triangle and the San Francisco Public Library’s James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center present Shall I Read You a Story?, a free virtual program examining the banning and censorship of LGBTQIA children’s and young adult literature.

The program will feature acclaimed authors Lesléa Newman and Maggie Tokuda-Hall in conversation with librarians Lindsay Klemas and Haley Hall about book banning, the importance of LGBTQIA representation in literature for young readers, and the vital role that writers, librarians, educators, and readers play in protecting access to books.

Special Celebrity Reading of Heather Has Two Mommies

The evening will also feature a special reading of Lesléa Newman’s groundbreaking children’s book Heather Has Two Mommies, with appearances by:

Alison Bechdel
Honey Davenport
Judy Grahn
Lev A.C. Rosen
Be Steadwell

First published in 1989, Heather Has Two Mommies became a landmark in LGBTQIA children’s literature and has also been one of the many books challenged for its depiction of LGBTQIA families.

Join Us

Thursday, October 8, 2026
8:00 PM Eastern / 5:00 PM Pacific
Via Zoom
FREE registration

Register here:
https://on.sfpl.org/banned-books-10-08-26

We hope you’ll join The Publishing Triangle and the San Francisco Public Library for this timely conversation about books, censorship, representation, and the freedom to read.