Forbidden Words Quilt

(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

BACKGROUND

A growing list of words and materials is being scrubbed from government websites and documents and flagged for review by federal agencies in an attempt by the Trump administration to remove all references not only to diversity, equity and inclusion, but also to climate change, vaccines, and a host of other topics. PEN America initially compiled a list of more than 250 words and phrases reportedly no longer considered acceptable by the Trump administration, from “abortion,” to “women,” and including “disability,” “elderly,” “Native American”and, unsurprisingly, the “Gulf of Mexico.”

The list has now expanded to 384+ words and phrases, encompassing even desirable goals like “safe drinking water,” the mention of which can now result in research grants or other agreements with the federal government getting nixed.  Some agencies ordered the removal of specific words from public-facing websites or the elimination of other materials (including school curricula) in which they might be included. In other cases, federal agencies used key words to flag materials for further review or asked staff to limit or avoid their usage.  Continue reading on the PENAmerica.org website

WHAT IS IT?

The Forbidden Words Quilt Project, led by Trisha Hickey and Lorraine Woodruff-Long, is an international community quilt project launched in August 2025 and completed in Spring 2026 with contributions from 195 quilters and makers from all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and 5 additional countries. The quilt features 384 words and phrases as identified by PENAmerica.org that are among the growing list of words and phrases being scrubbed from government websites and documents and flagged for review by federal agencies.

ARTISTS STATEMENT

As quilters/makers/artists we are alarmed by the chilling effect that prohibitions on language, ideas and research are having on our country already. Despite the current president’s lip service to “freedom of speech and ending federal censorship” we are seeing increasing government overreach in threats, intimidation and stifling the First Amendment. In response to this, we have created a community-based quilt project to serve as an artistic outlet to express our collective anger and frustration around the silencing of speech, language and ideas and create greater awareness to encourage action and resistance for both makers and viewers.

MISSION/PURPOSE

The Forbidden Words Quilt Project increases awareness of the phrases, words and ideas that are considered problematic and being censored by our current administration, and creates an outlet for quilters, makers and artists from across the country and around the globe to  contribute to an art project that addresses issues of grave concern, while fostering community in local communities and online to find and connect with like-minded friends and allies for further action to create awareness, action, and resistance.

GALLERY

CONTRIBUTORS

COMMENTARY

SUPPORT

Help us send the Forbidden Words Quilt to communities around the country!   The Forbidden Words Quilt is a nonprofit project sponsored by Intersection for the Arts of San Francisco. Contributions will support exhibition, shipping, travel and communication for the project. Click here to donate or scan QR code below.