Every reader deserves to see themself reflected in the pages of a book, yet significant obstacles stand between an underrepresented author and the reader who needs their story.

PEN America reports nearly 23,000 books have been banned in public schools across the nation since 2021, when the organization formally began tracking; it is “a number never before seen in the life of any living American.” This censorship movement has primarily targeted books by and about LGBTQIA+ people and Black, Indigenous, and people of color, as well as books for older readers which include sexual content. In the 2024-2025 school year alone, nearly 4,000 unique titles were impacted by these bans. And the EveryLibrary Institute, which hosts Dr. Magnusson’s Database of Book Bans and Challenges, lists thousands of additional titles impacted by censorship in public libraries. Coupled with the Trump administration’s targeting of civil rights which disproportionately affects marginalized people, and its gutting of DEI programs across the country, including in the arts, the climb for underrepresented authors can seem impossibly steep.

But the difficulties facing authors doesn’t begin with censorship. The path to publication requires a series of yeses from industry gatekeepers–literary agents, then editors, then the publishing house at large. As the first necessary “yes” for most traditionally published authors, literary agents advocate for authors for the entirety of their careers by championing their stories and helping to navigate barriers before and after publication, like censorship challenges.

Agenting, however, is a career with its own steep barriers. Most agents work entirely on commission, and the considerable upfront cost of building a career means that this job remains largely inaccessible for people of marginalized backgrounds, especially long-term. Currently, literary agents are predominantly cis, straight, able-bodied, upper middle class white women. This has a direct impact on the authors who find success in the traditional publishing system, leading to the disproportionate representation of writers of this same demographic.

Though the literary landscape in 2025 is more fraught than ever, Literary Agents of Change is working to change things. We are an all-volunteer 501(c)-3 nonprofit organization with a mission to increase the number of literary agents from historically underrepresented groups working in publishing.

LAOC helps to bridge the gap by offering fellowships, mentorships programs, and providing new and potential agents with sustainable resources to improve access and retention. On this Giving Tuesday and throughout November, we ask that you help us to continue this work. This year’s fundraising goal of $25,000 will ensure we cover our budgetary expenses for the coming year. 100% of our budget goes to our operations and programming that serves 16 mentees and 8 fellows. Your gift is an investment in a more equitable and inclusive publishing landscape, for agents and authors alike.