Stephen King has responded to the news that his books are being banned in schools due to a new law enacted in Florida.
On Thursday, August 29, Penguin Random House, together with five other publishers and the Authors Guild, initiated a lawsuit against Florida over a law that allows parents to request the removal of certain books from school libraries.
A right-wing organization known as Moms for Liberty has been advocating for the removal of books that discuss gender and sexuality from school libraries.
In response to these efforts, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation HP 1069 in 2022, which targets books alleged to contain sexually explicit material.
The bill stipulates that sex education programs must teach “that sex is determined by reproductive function at birth and is binary and unchangeable,” and mandate the use of materials approved by the state Department of Education. Additionally, it “allows anyone in the district to object to any material in the classroom or school library or on the reading list that depicts or describes any sexual conduct, even if it is not pornographic, if it is not for a health course,” according to the ACLU Florida.
The ACLU Florida further explains: “Such material would be removed pending investigation and subject to permanent removal.”
Since the law took effect in July 2023, several schools have banned certain books, including many of King’s novels.
Harper Collins Publishers issued a press release regarding the lawsuit against the state, citing that “hundreds of titles” have been banned since the implementation of bill HB 1069.
The press release states: “The list of banned books includes classics such as Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway, and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, as well as contemporary novels by bestselling authors such as Margaret Atwood, Judy Blume, and Stephen King.”
“If ‘a parent or a resident of the county’ objects to a book, the book must be removed within five days and remain unavailable until the objection is resolved.
“There is no requirement to review a book within a reasonable time frame—or even to return it if it has been found not to violate the statute. If a book is returned to the library, an objector may request a review by a state-appointed special magistrate at the expense of the school district.”
Books by King that have reportedly been banned include Carrie, It, The Gunslinger, The Long Walk, and The Running Man.
King took to Twitter on August 31 to address the situation, writing: “Florida has banned 23 pf [sic] my books. What the f**k?”
The publishers’ lawsuit argues that removing books containing “anything that can be construed as ‘sexual conduct'” disregards the educational value of the entire work.
Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks released a joint statement: “As publishers dedicated to protecting freedom of expression and the right to read, the rise in book bans across the country continues to demand our collective action.”
“Fighting unconstitutional legislation in Florida and across the country is an urgent priority. We are unwavering in our support for educators, librarians, students, authors, readers—everyone deserves access to books and stories that show different perspectives and viewpoints.
“Students need access to books that reflect a wide range of human experiences to learn and grow. It’s imperative for the education of our young people that teachers and librarians be allowed to use their professional expertise to match our authors’ books to the right reader at the right time in their life.”
The lawsuit advocates for “trained educators to evaluate books holistically to avoid harm to students who will otherwise lose access to a wide range of viewpoints.”
According to BBC, Florida officials have dismissed the lawsuit as a “stunt,” with Department of Education spokesperson Sydney Booker stating: “There are no books banned in Florida. Sexually explicit material and instruction are not suitable for schools.”