We advocate for an inclusive public education system. We are a community - regardless of our religious beliefs, cultural background, or sexual orientation.
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ALT Actual Fact: School districts do not have to report removals until the end of the 22/23 SY. The data reported by the Governor is incomplete. We know ours has yet to capture every removal that has happened because districts are not forthcoming with this information, but we are well over 300 in the 22/23 SY. You can look on St. Johns' website, they have removed 24 books and restricted 8 others as of 3/8/23. Currently, the most titles removed is held by Clay with over 250, some permanently removed, some temporarily while awaiting review. Next is Martin with over 75 titles on their list.
ALT Actual Fact: 3 of these titles were reviewed in their entirety & were determined by different review committees to be appropriate to keep on our library shelves for the following reasons: • Gender Queer & Flamer addressed issues of seeking parental support, overcoming feelings of isolation, rejection, and sensitively addressed questioning one's sexuality from a teen perspective • The nonfiction book This Book is Gay was retained in a district after the reviewers recognized the benefits of LGBTQ+ teens having access to the topics covered in the book: coming out, labels, stereotypes, fears, sex, safety, & navigating family and friends. Labeling books "pornography". There are parents that understand the library is the right place for books that address these topics in a relevant way. Providing facts about sex is not pornography. Pornography requires the intent to arouse, and that is not the purpose of these books. That label makes it possible for elected officials to demand their removal.
ALT Actual Fact: Books that address the lived experiences of Black and brown people have been called into question and in some cases removed or restricted in the following school districts because they contain "CRT" or the topics are not age appropriate: Duval • Clay • Indian River • Escambia • Pinellas • Sarasota • Palm Beach • St. Johns • Martin • Manatee HB7 and the expansion of soft censorship: One educator lost their certification in Duval County after discussing a play that the FLDOE office of Professional Standards determined could persuade students to a particular point of view. This took local leadership by surprise, and to prevent another educator from making the same mistake, they took the extra precautions of more thoroughly reviewing books about the lived experiences of non white people to ensure the books address racism, discrimination, and other topics in an age appropriate manner.
ALT Actual Fact: The inclusion of HB1557 in this "fact sheet" on library books in public schools is telling. According to Attorney General Moody, Pico applies to the availability of library books and this law is limited to classroom instruction. Meanwhile, our list of removed books in elementary schools primarily includes picture and middle grade titles with LGBTQ+ characters front and center. Books addressing racism, discrimination, immigration, and religion follow closely behind. Stats on Censorship Attempts: • 30 school districts have reported reviewing, restricting, or removing library books • Over 2000 individual censorship attempts have been made since October of 2021, less than half have had formal objections filed • Over 800 removals occurred while waiting for a review • Over 700 decisions have been made to remove or restrict a book • Four books have undergone a police investigation and not one has been found to meet the definition of "harmful to minors"
