Authors, agents and publishers report increasing difficulties in producing and selling queer books for young readers. Five years of rising challenges have led to reduced acquisitions and sales drops. A national bill targeting transgender topics recently advanced in Congress.
Publishers have reduced acquisitions of books with LGBTQ themes, according to agents and editors in the field. Sales of diverse titles to schools and libraries have fallen by half at some small presses focused on such works. Jason Low of Lee & Low Books noted that even covers with rainbows unrelated to pride flags are being skipped in orders.