LGBTQIA+ acceptance, hard fought and for a long time, is moving backwards in the US and book bans are part of that, erasing LGBTQIA+ voices and stories from cultural conversation – and LGBTQIA+ rights from society. More than 16,000 books have disappeared from schools since 2021, more than 10,000 banned in American public schools in 2025 alone [source: PEN America].
This Pride Month, US independent agency, Terri and Sandy, a long-standing advocate of the LGBTQIA+ community, has created a book that can’t be banned legally. The Unbannable Book is a digital archive of standout work by queer professionals in advertising, design, and beyond – an archive of ideas. The Unbannable Book legally can’t be pulled from circulation. It’s a website protected by the First Amendment and built as a living, growing digital portfolio of LGBTQIA+ artistry and expression.
The work includes submissions from queer professionals across advertising and related industries. Each participant contributes a piece of work that makes them feel seen, proud, or fulfilled, creating a tapestry of queer creative excellence. It was curated by a range of minds – members of inclusivity mentor/mentee network, Project Violet, that elevates queer voices in the workplace, the associate creative director behind the Mastercard x Lady Gaga Little Monsters event, the designer behind The Absolut Documentary, celebrating Absolut’s queer advertising pre-2000.
To rally the broader creative community around the effort, Terri and Sandy has also created a Can’t Ban My Book badge that contributors and supporters can display on their LinkedIn profiles and other social media sites. The badge is a way for creatives to show pride, connect with peers, and make their identity visible in professional spaces.
Credits:
Creative Agency: Terri & Sandy
Chief Executive Officer: Sandy Greenberg
President: Peyton Sutton
Creative Directors: Rafa Oliveira, Tali Gumbiner & Bryce Mathias
Copywriters: Jess Mannino & Sam Baylow
Art Director: Yuliya Kosheeva & Timmy Chae
Freelance: Claire Casalaspi, Emme Schumacher & Anna Myers
Operations: Ali Schurz
Web Developer: Kristofer Black
