Florida School District Restores Banned LGBTQ+ Books

The Nassau County School Board in northeast Florida has agreed to restore 36 banned books, including 'And Tango Makes Three,' as part of a settlement with students and parents who argued the removal was unlawful. This lawsuit is part of a broader backlash against recent legislation signed by Governor Ron DeSantis that facilitates book bans targeting LGBTQ+ content. Under the settlement, the district acknowledged that 'And Tango Makes Three' is not obscene and has educational value, contradicting previous claims of its inappropriateness. The decision also reflects the mounting legal challenges against Florida's book banning practices, with six major publishers recently filing a federal lawsuit against the state. Renowned authors whose works were removed, such as Toni Morrison and Khaled Hosseini, will see their titles reinstated. Advocates view this settlement as a victory for student access to diverse literature in schools.