Librarians in public schools in Charlotte County, Florida, were instructed by the school district superintendent to remove all books with LGBTQ characters or themes from school and classroom libraries. The guidance by Charlotte County Superintendent Mark Vianello and the school board's attorney, Michael McKinley, was obtained by the Florida Freedom to Read Project (FFTRP) through a public records request and shared with Popular Information. FFTRP requested "electronic records of district and school decisions regarding classroom and library materials." In response, FFTRP received a document memorializing a July 24 conversation between Vianello and district librarians, known in Florida as media specialists.
The statement by Vianello, “books with [t]hese characters and themes cannot exist." Sums up the goal of DeSatanist & his ilk (aka MAGA GOP). They want freedom of expression to “not exist”. They want freedom to chose to “not exist”. Therefore they want freedom to “not exist”.
This will do so much harm to so many children. As a young child, I knew I was different but had no guidance. I grew up feeling like a lesser person because I was different. These laws could not be more harmful to young people. They will grow and they will learn but why, intentionally make their lives more miserable, sad and lonely??? Hateful adults subject children to this type of ignorance.
Thank you for keeping the spotlight on this issue, which I hope means keeping pressure on those states implementing authoritarian policies such as this one, to back off. We all must speak out and stand up against banning of any books. Keep up the excellent reporting.
To think that we now have FREEDOM TO READ organizations! ...in 2023! Who would have ever thought we'd be marching backward because of people straining to control others' minds...all to avoid feeling uncomfortable!
Thank you, Judd, for keeping the focus on these people who could easily be dismissed as boring fools. Their intentions and drive are "not nothin'". All of our freedoms can disappear if we don't remain vigilant.
This is all part of the DeSantis/MAGA plan to ensure the next generation of voters is not equipped to compete in the 21st century and will therefore be open to the right wing propaganda that is pushed at them. It's all about scapegoating the gays and the brown people rather than the greedy billionaires and millionaire pastors that are the real causes of their distress.
The Florida book purge is right out of you know when and where.
If it isn't checked now it will spread to ban an ever widening circle of books and open the door to a flood of newly written fascist-friendly children's books.
History tells us book bans fail in the long term (see Renaissance) but only after wreaking horrible damage in the near term (see Dark Ages).
If ever there was a cause for resistance, this is it.
Another depressing report from Florida schools. I keep wondering: very little reference to parents in these stories; it's usually organizations taking the lead in opposition. Are parents powerless until the next elections? Or are most parents in Florida OK with this?
Florida's law, and the refusal to clarify what it means would be laughable if it were not so destructive for kids in Florida Schools. What is the goal? Do they really think that if they remove any hint that there are gay people in the books kids read none of those kids will grow up and identify as gay? Or that kids will not know that some people are gay? As kids are growing up and trying to figure out who they are, the question at the heart of that search is "Is it OK to be me"? If you see no examples of people like you in anything you read and your teachers are not allowed to talk about people like you, a child's inevitable conclusion is that it is not OK to be who they are. Overcoming that rejection is an enormous burden to place on a child. All of us have the right to be who we are, and kids need to know they should accept people who are different from them. All of us do better if we care about and work with each other, no matter our differences.
Clearly, the Bible will have to go. Anyone who reads the story of David and Jonathan with their eyes open recognizes that they were in love with each other (after Jonathan is killed in battle, David mourns him saying "Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women"). Then there's the relationship between Paul and Onesimus, not to mention the relationship between the Roman Centurian and his "pais" whom Jesus healed without judgment or question, and if we really want to look clearly, the relationship between Jesus and "the disciple whom he loved" who reclined with his head against Jesus' chest throughout "the last supper."
The Bible contains same sex relationships not to mention erotic poetry (Song of Songs), polygamy, and sexual violence. How can we possibly allow youngsters to read it before they're at least 18 years old?
Florida school district orders librarians to purge all books with LGBTQ characters
The statement by Vianello, “books with [t]hese characters and themes cannot exist." Sums up the goal of DeSatanist & his ilk (aka MAGA GOP). They want freedom of expression to “not exist”. They want freedom to chose to “not exist”. Therefore they want freedom to “not exist”.
This will do so much harm to so many children. As a young child, I knew I was different but had no guidance. I grew up feeling like a lesser person because I was different. These laws could not be more harmful to young people. They will grow and they will learn but why, intentionally make their lives more miserable, sad and lonely??? Hateful adults subject children to this type of ignorance.
"First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."
—Martin Niemöller
Are DeSantis and anti LGBTQ even aware of how ironic their hate is or even how it's nothing new? If so do they even care? Bloody fascists!
Thank you for keeping the spotlight on this issue, which I hope means keeping pressure on those states implementing authoritarian policies such as this one, to back off. We all must speak out and stand up against banning of any books. Keep up the excellent reporting.
To think that we now have FREEDOM TO READ organizations! ...in 2023! Who would have ever thought we'd be marching backward because of people straining to control others' minds...all to avoid feeling uncomfortable!
Thank you, Judd, for keeping the focus on these people who could easily be dismissed as boring fools. Their intentions and drive are "not nothin'". All of our freedoms can disappear if we don't remain vigilant.
The fascist brigade is marching through Florida, lead by a wanna be strong man in a pair of white go go boots. Unfathomable
This is all part of the DeSantis/MAGA plan to ensure the next generation of voters is not equipped to compete in the 21st century and will therefore be open to the right wing propaganda that is pushed at them. It's all about scapegoating the gays and the brown people rather than the greedy billionaires and millionaire pastors that are the real causes of their distress.
If the law bans “gender identity” doesn’t that mean there can be no heterosexual charters either?
The Florida book purge is right out of you know when and where.
If it isn't checked now it will spread to ban an ever widening circle of books and open the door to a flood of newly written fascist-friendly children's books.
History tells us book bans fail in the long term (see Renaissance) but only after wreaking horrible damage in the near term (see Dark Ages).
If ever there was a cause for resistance, this is it.
It has begun...
After all my years on earth I should not be surprised at the lengths people will go to promote their hate and fear but this example still amazes me.
No book should ever be banned unless you start banning the Bible too !!
Another depressing report from Florida schools. I keep wondering: very little reference to parents in these stories; it's usually organizations taking the lead in opposition. Are parents powerless until the next elections? Or are most parents in Florida OK with this?
Florida's law, and the refusal to clarify what it means would be laughable if it were not so destructive for kids in Florida Schools. What is the goal? Do they really think that if they remove any hint that there are gay people in the books kids read none of those kids will grow up and identify as gay? Or that kids will not know that some people are gay? As kids are growing up and trying to figure out who they are, the question at the heart of that search is "Is it OK to be me"? If you see no examples of people like you in anything you read and your teachers are not allowed to talk about people like you, a child's inevitable conclusion is that it is not OK to be who they are. Overcoming that rejection is an enormous burden to place on a child. All of us have the right to be who we are, and kids need to know they should accept people who are different from them. All of us do better if we care about and work with each other, no matter our differences.
Clearly, the Bible will have to go. Anyone who reads the story of David and Jonathan with their eyes open recognizes that they were in love with each other (after Jonathan is killed in battle, David mourns him saying "Your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women"). Then there's the relationship between Paul and Onesimus, not to mention the relationship between the Roman Centurian and his "pais" whom Jesus healed without judgment or question, and if we really want to look clearly, the relationship between Jesus and "the disciple whom he loved" who reclined with his head against Jesus' chest throughout "the last supper."
The Bible contains same sex relationships not to mention erotic poetry (Song of Songs), polygamy, and sexual violence. How can we possibly allow youngsters to read it before they're at least 18 years old?
This is as insane as it is cruel.
Keep in mind, this is what the Republicans want to do across the country.