The terrible, inevitable thing had finally happened. At Eastside High School, the list of book challenges continues to grow. School libraries, bastions of diversity, richness, inclusion, and democracy, are under attack. There’s not much I can say that hasn’t already been said. There are no words that will magically change the momentum of this bill. However, I can no longer remain silent.
Banning books is censorship and discrimination. It limits access and opportunity. Recent amendments to the custody bill say books containing sexual acts can be removed if county residents object.
However, the vast majority of books currently being challenged depict the experiences of marginalized communities. Frankly, this law is being used by people other than parents to remove books that explicitly deal with topics of race, gender identity, and homosexuality.
As an English language arts teacher, I have witnessed firsthand the power of stories. Time and time again, I have seen students feel empowered by expression in their writing. I receive emails from students who tell me that a book changed their lives and saved them from despair. I see tears streaming down my face at the end of a play or at a moving passage. I listen to intellectual and civil debates arising from global issues presented in literature.
Many of these texts deal with death, discrimination, dysfunction, violence, and yes, race and sexuality.
HB 1557 and 1069 violate my parental rights by preventing access. I encourage children to explore the world through literature. I want my teens to read about difficult topics and sexuality. I don’t want my children to feel there is anything offensive or shameful about same-sex relationships or honest exploration of historical and contemporary racism and injustice. I respect the fact that other parents do not share these values, and we have policies in place to ensure that we do not force our children to read books they find offensive.
These new laws go far beyond that and instead: Anyone You will no longer be able to access these books through your school library. In Alachua County, one resident submitted 16 of her 18 book assignments. The book that this one person finds inappropriate is meaningful to many others. Why would children be denied access to these books because one citizen found them offensive? Florida’s book ban law legally and morally limits my parental rights. is also a significant deviation.
Although the challenges in these books purport to be about freedom, they are actually about allowing a vocal and fearful minority to control the education of other people’s children. They aim to silence diversity and dissent, and render invisible lifestyles that are already marginalized. They create an atmosphere of fear, censorship, and shame. If this bill were truly about parental rights, there would be a much different approach.
For example, Alachua County has taken specific steps to protect parents’ rights regarding children’s revealing books. Parents can sign forms that restrict access to books and other materials they don’t want their children to see. This form can be found on the SBAC website under “Media and Educational Materials.”
Mass censorship is not protection.
We must do better for all children. Censoring books does not protect children from the world. Seeing yourself, your struggles, joys, and pains expressed in literature can be a life-affirming experience. I think the purpose of banning these books is to deprive marginalized youth of this legitimacy.
Excluding books that explore themes of race, gender identity, and homosexuality further fosters intolerance. It makes the most vulnerable young people feel more isolated and less safe. According to the CDC, the suicide rate for the LGBTQ+ population is significantly higher at 25% compared to 5% for straight people.
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Many studies assume that LGBTQ+ youth are not inherently more likely to commit suicide because of their sexual orientation. Rather, abuse and social stigma put them at higher risk. Censoring books that examine and celebrate the LGBTQ+ experience is legally sanctioned intolerance and discrimination.
Banning books is intellectually lazy and mean. To those in the community who waste time filling out reading challenge forms and reading provocative excerpts at school board meetings: If you are genuinely interested in enriching the lives of young people, please contact me. Please come to our school. We need leaders. We need a bus driver and a substitute teacher. Banning books does nothing to improve children’s lives or school culture. You are not protecting your children. You are defending your ignorance and bigotry while hurting the most vulnerable youth.
Amanda Lacy is an Alachua County High School teacher.
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