Collier County FL Bans Over 300 Books

COLLIER COUNTY FLORIDA SCHOOL DISTRICT BANS OVER 300 BOOKS FROM AUTHORS INCLUDING TONI MORRISON, STEPHEN KING, JUDY BLUME AND MORE

A Multitude of Titles Are Now Banned From Collier County Public School Libraries as Officials Repress Students’ Literary Freedom

Collier County, FL (November 17, 2023) - Last week, Collier County School District took more extreme measures to suppress students’ freedom to read a diverse mix of literary titles by removing more than 300 titles from its school libraries. The move is an effort to comply with new Florida legislation that expands upon the so-called ‘Don’t Say LGBTQ+’ law. HB 1069 broadens school board oversight and gives the district the grounds for removal of content that broadly “depicts or describes sexual conduct.”

In response to this restrictive action, GLSEN Executive Director, Melanie Willingham-Jaggers (they/she), remarked, "Politicians and school boards in Florida have chosen to withhold students’ access to education and history; limit their rights; and stifle their opportunities to participate in our multiracial democracy," said Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Executive Director of GLSEN. "Inclusive school curriculum — including access to books about LGBTQ+ people and people of color — can act as a window for students into the diverse world around them, as well as a mirror to reflect their own experiences and identities. We must speak out against book bans and vote for down-ballot candidates like school board members and state legislators who support inclusive education."

"Banning books because they contain LGBTQ+ content, or cover issues of race or ethnicity, is an explicit attempt to silence the stories of communities that already face an onslaught of legislative attacks, especially in Florida," said Chris Schmeckpeper-Kobzina, GLSEN Collier County Co-Chair. "This generation of students will be seriously impacted by this district’s policy and over-interpretation of the law."

Collier County will no longer carry pieces of literature from the following notable authors:

• Toni Morrison
• Judy Blume
• Stephen King
• Ernest Hemingway
• Mary Higgins Clark
• Dean Koontz
• Jodi Picoult
• Nora Roberts
• Tom Robbins
• Janet Evanovich
• Khaled Hosseini
• Leo Tolstoy
• John Green
• Neil Gaiman

A full list of banned authors can be found at the link here.

As a way to provide students with these important works of literature, GLSEN created the Rainbow Library. The library has provided LGBTQ+ affirming texts to over 46,000 students in Florida from grades K-12, 58% of which are from low-income families. The program services schools across the country at no cost, this includes key districts like Collier County where access to diverse literature is limited.

Media Contacts
Lucky Break PR
Mark Umbach, Lucky Break PR
mark@luckybreakpr.com
Briana Velasco, Lucky Break PR
briana@luckybreakpr.com

//

About GLSEN

GLSEN is the nation’s largest organization championing LGBTQ+ issues in K-12 education and for over 33 years, GLSEN has fought to create safe and supportive LGBTQ+-inclusive schools for all students. With LGBTQ+ youth under attack across the country, GLSEN works to combat harassment and discrimination by training visible and supportive educators and enacting policy reform, fighting book bans through our Rainbow Library Program that provides LGBTQ+ affirming literature to over 3 million students in 30 states, supporting LGBTQ+ athletes in the face of anti-trans legislation through our Changing the Game program, and by supporting student-led programs like GSAs nationwide. GLSEN believes every student has the right to a safe and affirming education regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression because no young person should have to choose between their wellbeing and an education.