It feels like folks are finally fighting back against the rise of censorship and Penguin Random House is taking things to court. The publisher has announced it’s challenging recently enacted laws in Iowa (Senate File 496). They’re joined by the Iowa State Education Association and four authors whose books have been banned or removed in Iowa – Laurie Halse Anderson (Speak and Shout), John Green (Looking for Alaska and Fault in Our Stars), Malinda Lo (Last Night at the Telegraph Club and A Scatter of Light), and Jodi Picoult (19 Minutes) – three educators, a high school student, and parent.

The Iowa legislation was enacted in May 2023 and prohibits books that feature any depiction of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation, regardless of context from public school and classroom libraries.

The lawsuit is seeking a federal court injunction on the grounds the law violates the First Amendment and free speech and Fourteenth Amendment and equal protection.