“They don’t want all children to feel that way. They only seem to want some children to be able to feel that way, and that is evident through their focus on book bans and curriculum and really specifically seeming to be discriminatory against LGBTQ kids.”

Dewey added, “Dave McCormick aligning himself with [Moms for Liberty] tells me that he believes those things too.”

Read More at Keystone News

The post Dave McCormick to attend event with Moms for Liberty and Betsy DeVos appeared first on Red Wine and Blue.

This is a story about reading, but let’s start with some math: 644.That’s the number of book bans in Pennsylvania public school districts between July 2021 and June 2023.Third. That’s where the commonwealth ranks in the nation when it comes to states with the most book bans.

One. That’s how many of those bans it took for Chester County mother Ronna Dewey to get involved.

“In 2021, in my school district, there was a proposed ban of a few books,” Dewey said. “These books all had LGBTQ+ characters or were written by LGBTQ+ authors or had material about the LGBTQ+ community; I have a kid who is part of that community and it felt really, really personal to me. So I got involved. I knew I had to stand up and say something.”

Continue Reading at keystonenewsroom.com

The post The PA mother who’s standing up against book bans—and the Dems standing with her appeared first on Red Wine and Blue.

Ronna Dewey, The Pennsylvania program director for Red Wine & blue, was invited to be the keynote speaker at the rally. She says women’s voices and power are often underestimated in the political world, and rallies like this one serve as a reminder.

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The post Woman’s rally held in Schuylkill County appeared first on Red Wine and Blue.

Localized social media groups on Facebook and other platforms can be a popular starting point for stirring outrage over books or to push for “harmful” policies, according to Ronna Dewey, the Pennsylvania chapter head of Red, Wine & Blue, a kind of national counter group to the conservative Moms For Liberty.

“Maybe they heard something from a friend in another school district or saw something online and they start saying things like, ‘Oh, do we have these books in our school? We need to start looking,’” Dewey said.

Continue Reading at phillyburbs 

The post After fighting ‘extremist’ school boards, PA advocates network to help fight other efforts appeared first on Red Wine and Blue.

“We all want to make sure that we are living in a community where all people feel supported and welcomed,” Dewey said. “If kids aren’t feeling that way, they won’t be able to learn and if our kids aren’t learning then we are going to have a lost generation. If they are prevented from learning, then we are all going to lose.”

Dewey should know. The Chester County mother of three fought a proposed book ban in her local school district not too long ago, one that hit very close to home.

“In 2021, in my school district, there was a proposed ban of a few books,” Dewey said. “These books all had LGBTQ+ characters or were written by LGBTQ+ authors or had material about the LGBTQ+ community; I have a kid who is part of that community and it felt really, really personal to me. So I got involved. I knew I had to stand up and say something.”

It was the first time Dewey fought a book ban and it inspired her to join an organization that shared her values. Dewey is now the Pennsylvania state program director of the Red Wine and Blue, a community of over 500,000 suburban women across the country who organize to fight extremism in their communities. Due to the efforts of extremist organizations like Moms for Liberty, best known for pushing book bans, harassing teachers and school board members, and supporting anti-LGBTQ laws, the need for organizations such as Dewey’s is more necessary than ever.

Read more about Red, Wine & Blue’s Ronna Dewey and the complete article at keystonenewsroom.com

The post Defending Free Expression: How to Fight Back Against Book Bans in Pennsylvania appeared first on Red Wine and Blue.

“We believe that the best way to fight book bans is with knowledge and facts,” said Red Wine and Blue Pennsylvania Program Director Ronna Dewey in a statement. “This summer we turned our cars into Bookmobiles and are handing out children’s banned books to families. We are so excited to help fill Central York’s 22 Little Free Libraries.”

Read more at the York Dispatch

The post ‘Fight book bans’: Central York parent-planned read-a-thon will feature banned books appeared first on Red Wine and Blue.

The policy, passed by a 6-3 vote, targeted books with explicit or implied depictions of sex or nudity and allowed any resident to challenge publications in its libraries, a controversial rule that drew concerns from anti-censorship groups and LGBTQ students, like Freeman.

“Tonight, our politicized school board will be voting on the most restrictive library policy in Pennsylvania. One that, if passed, will not only set a precedent for our district, the third largest in Pennsylvania, but all schools in both our state and across the nation,” said Freeman.

Read more at Ellwood City Ledger

The post Students, authors fight censorship in PA schools appeared first on Red Wine and Blue.

“We are here to celebrate,” said Morningstar, a transgender woman, and one of about 100 people who turned out for the Trans Day of Visibility rally in Harrisburg.

“It’s time to highlight some of our stories and our narratives, in spite of the harsh times and the more than 500 anti-trans bills that have been introduced across the country. A lot of these laws are making it difficuult for us to live. The Republicans are trying to legislate trans people out of existence.”

Read more at Penn Live

The post At ‘visibility rally’ members of trans community call for equality and safety in schools, workplace appeared first on Red Wine and Blue.

Pennsylvania House Republicans are blatantly trying to hold on to their power and push their out-of-touch agenda.

Pennsylvania voters overwhelmingly supported Democrats up and down the ballot, electing a 102-101 Democrat majority in the state House. But Republican elected officials would rather try to jam through their extreme agenda and deny voters their due representation. By not scheduling the special elections as soon as possible, the will of the people is being ignored.

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The post Pennsylvania voters want to protect freedom, especially to control their own bodies appeared first on Red Wine and Blue.