George Takei to lead Banned Books Week, urging fight against censorship

George Takei will serve as honorary chair of Banned Books Week, the American Library Association announced Monday. The annual event, which runs Oct. 5–11, will see libraries and bookstores across the country spotlight titles that have faced censorship, including Maia Kobabe's Gender Queer and Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye.

Takei, 88, described censorship as a personal issue and a lifelong fight. He said, 'I remember all too well the lack of access to books and media that I needed growing up. First as a child in a barbed-wire prison camp, then as a gay young man in the closet, I felt confused and hungry for understanding about myself and the world around me.' 'Please stand with me in opposing censorship, so that we all can find ourselves — and each other — in books.'

Takei will share leadership with Iris Mogul, honorary youth chair and a first-year student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who has been active for years in anti-banning campaigns. Past honorary chairs for Banned Books Week, established in 1982, include Ava DuVernay, LeVar Burton and Jason Reynolds. The event has long served as a nationwide reminder of the importance of defending the freedom to read and of recognizing how censorship affects communities across ages and backgrounds.

The American Library Association emphasizes that Banned Books Week spotlights titles that have been challenged or removed from shelves and seeks to foster dialogue about why access to diverse voices matters in libraries, classrooms and the broader culture. As debates over which books belong in school curricula and public libraries continue, organizers say the week provides a platform for educators, librarians and readers to advocate for open, inclusive reading choices. This year’s focus underscores the ongoing connection between culture, education and civil rights, reflecting Takei’s long-running advocacy for LGBTQ+ visibility and literary access as a cornerstone of civic life.