(ParitallyPolitics.com) – Book publisher Penguin Random House and freedom of speech organization PEN America have filed a lawsuit in a Pensacola district court following the recent book bans in Florida schools.
Florida schools have recently banned from their shelves 10 books while also restricting access to dozens more. Book publisher Penguin Random House, PEN America, authors, and parents in their lawsuit oppose the removal of books from schools because they contain race and LGBTQ issues.
In the lawsuit which was filed on Wednesday, they allege that the Escambia County School District and the School Board violated the First Amendment by completely removing 10 books and limiting access to more than 100 books. The books banned in Florida included “All Boys Aren’t Blue,” an autobiographical book about the author’s experience growing up Black and gay, “And Tango Makes Three,” a children’s book where two male penguins raise a chick, and “When Aidan Became a Brother,” a book featuring a transgender boy who helps his family as they bring a new baby into their home.
Many other books were also restricted including “The Kite Runner,” by Khaled Hosseini and “Slaughterhouse-Five,” by Kurt Vonnegut.
In the lawsuit, it is also stated that the book removal also constitutes a violation of the 14th Amendment as the books banned or restricted are in their majority “by non-white and/or LGBTQ authors.”
Of the 154 books banned or restricted in the district, 60 percent feature racial and LGBTQ identity themes, or have a leading character that is non-white or LGBTQ.
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