Six publishers including HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Hatchette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks are suing Florida on the grounds that the book banning law passed by failed presidential candidate Ron Desantis is unconstitutional.
The law in question is H.B. 1069, which allows anyone, whether or not they have a child in a Florida public school, to get a book removed from school libraries by reporting it has “sexual content.” This law has immensely limited the education that students in Florida are receiving on topics such as inclusivity, the LGBTQ+ community, and general sex education. The effect of this is the promotion of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community in Florida as well as other minorities due to a lack of representation.
Books that have been banned under this law include Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, Forever by Judy Blume, and Tango Makes Three and other children’s picture books with LGBTQ+ themes and characters.
Each of these books carries a strong message about topics such as systematic discrimination, the importance of inclusivity and diversity, women’s rights, and representation of minorities. In a joint press release, the publishers involved in the lawsuit state, “Fighting unconstitutional legislation in Florida and across the country is an urgent priority. We are unwavering in our support for educators, librarians, students, authors, readers—Everyone deserves access to books and stories that show different perspectives and viewpoints.”
This support is also mirrored in the actions taken by groups and individuals nationwide in protest of H.B. 1069. Various organizations have donated banned books to schools and libraries in Florida and other states that have since passed similar legislation. Popular celebrities have also taken a stand against book banning as exemplified by the artist P!nk giving away thousands of banned books at her tour stops in Florida.
The outcry against banning books in schools and libraries has been overwhelming, and with this lawsuit filed by six major publishers, it is now receiving even more attention and pushback.
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