Democratic vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz took aim at the rising trend of anti-LGBTQ book bans during his keynote address at the Human Rights Campaign’s National Dinner on Saturday. Walz ridiculed recent efforts to ban books like And Tango Makes Three, a children’s story about two gay penguins raising a chick, which has become a target of censorship efforts.
“[In Minnesota], we banned banning books, especially banning LGBTQ books,” Walz said, according to LGBTQ Nation. “This is what these folks are focusing on, spending all their time. Like reading about two male penguins who love each other is somehow going to turn your children gay, and that’s what you should worry about.”
Walz contrasted these bans with the urgent issue of school shootings, highlighting the misplaced priorities of some lawmakers. “Some people are gay. But you know what’s not a fact of life? That our children need to be shot dead in schools,” he said. “Folks are banning books, but they’re okay with weapons of war being in our schools.”
His remarks come amid growing attempts to censor LGBTQ-themed books across the country. In July, Idaho implemented a law banning “obscene materials” for minors, but the law’s vague definition of “obscene” includes portrayals of “homosexuality,” potentially banning even the mere existence of gay characters in literature. Libraries face mandatory fines of $250 for violations, and patrons can sue for uncapped damages.
According to the Associated Press, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, Walz’s opponent in the vice presidential race, recently sparked controversy with comments about school shootings. Addressing the September 4 shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia, Vance called school shootings a “fact of life.” He said, “I don’t like that this is a fact of life, but if you are a psycho and you want to make headlines, you realize that our schools are soft targets.” He emphasized the need to bolster security rather than addressing gun control.
Efforts to restrict access to LGBTQ-themed books have intensified in recent years. In 2022, over half of the top 13 most-challenged books contained queer themes or characters, according to LGBTQ Nation. Walz, a vocal supporter of the LGBTQ community, has a long history of advocacy. As a teacher, he served as an advisor to his school’s Gay-Straight Alliance, underscoring his commitment to LGBTQ rights, The New York Times reported.