Kent Council Removes Transgender Books from Children’s Library Sections

Kent County Council's new Reform UK leadership, led by Councillor Paul Webb and supported by council leader Linden Kemkaran, has ordered the removal of transgender-related books from the children's sections of all county libraries, describing the move as a protection of children from what they consider harmful ideologies. The decision followed a complaint about the presence of The Autistic Trans Guide to Life, a book aimed at autistic trans and non-binary adults, which was mistakenly said to be in the children's section but was actually part of a Pride-themed display. This action has sparked significant backlash from local bookshops, LGBTQ+ rights campaigners, and opposition politicians who condemn the move as censorship, harmful to the trans community, and an attack on freedom, education, and human rights. Critics argue that the decision sends a message that trans lives and stories are unwelcome and unsafe, and fear it could lead to broader erasure of LGBTQ+ literature. Opposition leaders, including Liberal Democrat Antony Hook and Labour MP Tristian Osbourne, have criticized the policy's announcement via social media and called for clearer explanations and impact assessments. Supporters of the decision maintain it is about child safety and proper classification within libraries, not banning the material outright.