PEN America Will Honor Sarah Jessica Parker at Annual Gala

 Sarah Jessica Parker is set to be honored by PEN America for advocating for the freedom to read.

The organization announced on Friday, Feb. 14, that the Sex and the City star will receive the PEN Audible Literary Service Award at its 16th annual gala on Thursday, May 15.

The upcoming celebration honors "extraordinary contributors in literature, the arts, journalism, publishing and film, alongside courageous individuals who have stood up for free expression against oppressive regimes," per the press release.

The actress and literary champion executive-produced the new documentary film The Librarians, which chronicles librarians nationwide who are making grassroots attempts to combat legislation pulling books from schools and public libraries. The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January 2025.

Along with celebrating her work on the new documentary, PEN America is also honoring the activist for "uplifting underrepresented voices through her own imprint, SJP Lit," per the press release.

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“We are now at a crisis point with books by underrepresented writers being pulled from school libraries and classrooms," PEN America co-CEO Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf said in a statement. "Sarah Jessica Parker is pushing back against these bans as an indispensable defender of the freedom to read and by shining a light on exceptional new voices of American contemporary literature through her publishing imprint SJP Lit.

"For these reasons, we are delighted to honor this multi-talented artist and cultural icon with one of our most prestigious awards," Shariyf concluded.

Parker joins the likes of former PEN Literary Service Award honorees, including 2024 recipient Paul Simon, as well as previous winners Margaret Atwood, Bob Woodward, Stephen King, Patti Smith, Toni Morrison, Stephen Sondheim, Prof. Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Lorne Michaels.

Related: Sarah Jessica Parker To Judge Booker Awards: 'Going to Listen A Lot'

Authors and PEN America trustees Jodi Picoult and Dinaw Mengestu will serve as literary co-chairs of the event. Macmillan Publishers CEO Jon Yaged will also be warded the Business Visionary award, for "reflecting his decades-long commitment to publishing diverse authors, combating book bans and igniting a lifelong love of reading in young people."

Related: PEN America Reports 200% Surge in Book Bans in 2023-2024, Largely BIPOC and LGBTQ+ Books

“Jon Yaged has spoken with eloquence and force against the limiting and chilling effects of book bans that have skyrocketed in public schools and libraries," co-CEO Summer Lopez said in the statement.

"For decades, Jon has been a stalwart defender of the right to read and a champion of ensuring publishing represents diverse voices and perspectives, understanding the fundamental role of these values in a democratic society."

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