Stephen King condemns Florida for banning 23 of his books

Stephen King has responded to the banning of his books in schools due to a new law in Florida.

On August 29, Penguin Random House, along with several other publishers and the Authors Guild, filed suit against Florida. The law in question allows parents to file complaints and have certain books removed from school libraries.

Moms for Liberty, a far-right group, is pushing for the removal of books that address gender and sexuality. In response to these complaints, Governor Ron DeSantis signed HP 1069 into law in 2022, targeting books with allegedly sexually explicit content.

A great evening in Washington, DC with @Moms4LibertyThanks! #MAGA2024 pic.twitter.com/JxSoaNKXTf

– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 31 August 2024

The law requires that sex education classes must teach that gender is binary and determined at birth, and that only state-approved materials may be used. It also allows objections to classroom or library materials depicting sexual behavior, even if they are not pornographic, unless they are for a health course. Such materials will be removed pending investigation and may be banned permanently.

Since the law took effect in July 2023, several schools have banned various books, including some of King's works.

HarperCollins announced the lawsuit against the state, pointing out that “hundreds of titles” have been banned since HB 1069 went into effect. This list includes classics such as Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and contemporary works by authors such as Margaret Atwood and Judy Blume.

Books will be removed from libraries if a parent or county resident objects. Timely inspection or return upon compliance is not required. An objecting student may request a review by a special judge appointed by the state and funded by the school district.

Florida has banned 23 of my books.
What the hell?

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) 31 August 2024

Stephen King's banned novels include “Carrie,” “It,” “Gunslinger,” “The Long Walk” and “Running Man.” King responded on Twitter on August 31, writing, “Florida banned 23 of my books. What the hell?”

The publishers' lawsuit argues that banning books for “sexual conduct” disregards their educational value. Penguin Random House and other publishers stressed the need to protect freedom of expression and access to diverse viewpoints.

They emphasized the importance of giving educators the opportunity to use their expertise to introduce students to books that reflect diverse human experiences.

Florida authorities dismissed the lawsuit as a “stunt.” Sydney Booker, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education, said: “No books are banned in Florida. Sexually explicit material and teaching materials are not appropriate for school.”