Florida School Removes 300 Books Containing LGBTQ

Florida – School districts in Florida removed about 300 books from library shelves on a list of "removed or discontinued materials" released by the state's education department at the end of last month.

The 300 or so books removed were LGBTQ-themed reading books for children.

The removal was triggered by more than 1,200 objections filed by parents of public school students and other Florida residents, according to a 16-page Florida Department of Education document that included the book list.

The titles removed included dozens of books with LGBTQ topics or characters and several winners of prestigious book awards, including the Pulitzer Prize.

"Florida did not ban the books. It's just that these books are not allowed to be read by children," said Caily Myers, a spokesperson for the Florida State Department of Education.

"The list consists of information provided by each school district about the books they removed based on objections from parents or residents in the area using their district process," Myres added.

This is the first year the state education department has collected information on book objections received by school districts.

Of Florida's 67 counties, school districts in 21 counties removed LGBTQ-themed books in the last school year, with five districts removing more than 10 books. Clay County, in the northeastern part of the state, banned the most titles, with 177 books, followed by Martin County, in the southeast, with 98 books.

Jennifer DeShazo, a spokeswoman for the Martin County School District, said the district removed the books to comply with the implementation of the Parents' Rights in Education law, which critics have dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" law.

The measure, which went into effect in July last year, restricts teaching about LGBTQ issues in schools in the state.

While Martin County schools cannot provide students with any of the 98 books on the district's list, DeShazo said that students are allowed to bring their own books from home.

The Clay County School District spokesperson also cited Florida's so-called Don't Say Gay law along with Florida House Bill 1467. 

The law allows parents or residents of a county in Florida to file a lawsuit against school books. As a result, in response to parent requests, at least 177 books were removed in the district.

A spokesperson for the Manatee County School District, which removed 25 books from its shelves last school year, also referred to House Bill 1467 in response to a request for comment on the removal. 

Representatives from two other school districts removed more than 10 books – flagler Schools, which removed 11 books, and Osceola County School District, which removed 21 titles.

The Parents' Rights in Education Act, signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis last year, prohibits teaching sexual orientation or gender identity in schools. Or in a manner that is not age or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.

A spokesperson for DeSantis, who is currently traveling the state as part of his presidential campaign, did not respond to a request for comment. But the law has been expanded this year to prohibit teaching LGBTQ recognition in kindergarten through high school, as reported from NY site.