Keep Pride Month alive with these 6 LGBTQ+ books banned in Texas schools

An overwhelming majority of books that have been banned in Texas public schools contain LGBTQ+ themes. That’s why this Pride Month, The TexEd Report featured a new LGBTQ+ banned book in every edition.⁣

Katie Serrano

June 26, 2026

Although Pride Month is coming to a close, you can continue to read these stories all year long. (Photo courtesy)

Every week throughout Pride Month, The TexEd Report featured a new book with LGTBQ+ themes that’s been banned in Texas public schools.

Even though Pride Month is coming to an end, you can keep it going all year long by adding these titles to your To Read list.

“Forever is Now”

“Forever is Now” by Mariama J. Lockington was banned in Katy ISD in 2024 and is a young adult novel that follows Sadie, a Black, bisexual teen who struggles with anxiety and agoraphobia. It also deals with themes of police brutality.

“In the Dream House”

“In the Dream House” by Carmen Maria Machado is an award-winning memoir that was banned in North East and Leander ISDs in 2021, and is about the author’s experience with domestic abuse in a same-sex relationship.

“Brave Face”

“Brave Face” by Shaun David Hutchinson was banned in North East and Leander ISDs in 2021, and Texarkana ISD in 2022. The memoir follows the author through his teenage and early adult years as he navigates depression and accepts his sexuality.

“Heartstopper”

“Heartstopper” by Alice Oseman was banned in Conroe and Keller ISDs in 2023, Lamar Consolidated ISD in 2024, and Nacogdoches ISD in 2025. It follows the coming-of-age romance between two British high schoolers, Nick and Charlie, and has been praised for its themes of found family and acceptance and its anti-bullying message.

“All Boys Aren’t Blue”

“All Boys Aren’t Blue,” a memoir by journalist and activist George M. Johnson, is one of the most-banned books in Texas. It was banned in Belton, Conroe, Frisco, Humble, and Keller ISDs in 2022, Fort Worth and Plano ISDs in 2023, and Highland Park, Fort Bend, and Lamar Consolidated ISDs in 2024. It’s a series of essays detailing the author’s experiences growing up Black and queer in America.

“Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe”

“Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Sáenz was banned in Klein ISD in 2021, Texarkansas and Granbury ISDs in 2022, and Nacogdoches ISD in 2025. It’s set in the 1980s in El Paso and is about two Mexican-American teenagers.

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