Library groups, publishers criticize Tennessee secretary of state’s gender identity audit

Some libraries have shut down to conduct an audit of "age-appropriate" books as required by Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett.(Max McCoy/Kansas Reflector)

Book publishers and literary groups are challenging orders by Tennessee’s secretary of state for public libraries to audit children’s collections and eliminate books dealing with gender identity.

Groups such as the American Library Association, Penguin Random House, the National Coalition Against Censorship and Lambda Literary were joined this week by PEN America, a nonprofit organization that advocates for free speech by defending literature and human rights, in denouncing directives by Secretary of State Tre Hargett. He is requiring libraries that receive state or federal grant funds to make an “age-appropriate” review of book