#leah johnson

[slaughter-books]

Day 15: JOMPBPC: Love Yo' Self

[yourdailyqueer]

Leah Johnson

Gender: Female

Sexuality: Queer

DOB: 5 July 1994

Ethnicity: African American

Occupation: Writer, entrepreneur

[ikuneko]

My 4th read for Black History Month this year had me sobbing at 5am when I finished it. Ellie Engle Saves Herself! by Leah Johnson

I knew when I read the dedication that this book was going to make me cry, but I didn't realize what a gut punch the Author's Note was going to be at the end.

This book was a spectacularly beautiful story about the importance of stepping out of the shadows and making yourself known, even if it can be uncomfortable. A highly recommended read for all ages.

[lgbtqreads]

Happy Black History Month 2025!

Happy Black History Month! Like the other eleven months, it’s an excellent time to buy queer books by Black authors! For even more recs, check out previous years’ posts! Middle Grade Camp Twisted Pine by Ciera Burch Eleven-year-old Naomi loves all things outdoors—birds and beetles, bats and bunnies—in theory. She explores nature in the best possible way: the cold, hard facts in books. So when her…

Happy Black History Month 2025!

[the-final-sentence]

Something just like the new year itself.

Leah Johnson & George M. Johnson, from There's Always Next Year

[lakecountylibrary]

Book restrictions in Indiana pressure public schools and libraries to remove books

Over the last few years, parents and a network of organized conservative groups have put pressure on public schools and community libraries

It's Banned Books Week! Indiana made it on to PBS News last month. Guess why!

The video at the link is captioned and has a full text transcript. No paywall. It discusses a censorship bill passed in Indiana last year (2023).

A few salient highlights:

Leah Johnson: (Indiana author, You Should See Me in a Crown) It's not about the removal of books from shelves. It's about the removal of queer people from public life. It's about making queer people ashamed and afraid and driving them back into the closet.

Max: (Indiana teen) The first book that I read wasn't the reason I realized I was trans. It was just nice to see once I realized that, and I see that represented a book. So now that it's not being represented, it might be harder for people to realize or even just feel safe in their own identity, and that's my concern.

Jim Tomes: (Republican Indiana State Senator, co-author of the bill in question) Well, maybe they should worry. [...] Maybe it should have the chilling effect [...] I will say this, if you're defending these libraries and these books, you're on the wrong side of things.

-- The bill being discussed in this video went into effect last year after a drawn-out fight in the Indiana legislature. We wrote about the fight here. (Scroll down for the reblog with the final update)

We expect next year's legislative session to go further, introducing harsher restrictions and targeting public libraries and librarians in addition to schools and teachers. Keep an ear to the ground if you're in Indiana - your library may need your help in 2025.

Incidentally, and totally unrelated, have you checked your voter registration lately? Local elections matter!

[fourdiagnosesinatrenchcoat]

Ok we've had a summer with a range of gay male romances, created oddly enough by people who are not gay men.

WHEN is Hot Lesbian Summer or Ineffable Wives Summer or even just Sweet and Largely Chaste Lesbian Summer? It's like we got But I'm a Cheerleader and Hollywood decided that was enough. (Meanwhile Jamie Babbitt is RIGHT HERE working on OMITB)

Can we PLEASE get a You Should See Me in a Crown movie? Or a series of Alexandria Bellefleur's Seattle books? Or let's go historical with Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics?

Where are the sapphic adaptations??

[blackqueernotables]

Leah Johnson: editor, educator, and author