Dictionaries Among 1,600 Books Pulled By FL School District Over New Sex Ed Law: Reports

FLORIDA — A review is underway after a school district in the Florida Panhandle recently removed at least 1,600 books, including dictionaries, from local libraries to guarantee compliance with a new sex education law, per media reports.

NBC News reported Thursday the Escambia County Public School District pulled five dictionaries, eight encyclopedias and "The Guinness Book of World Records" from shelves to ensure they comply with House Bill 1069.

The outlet reported reviews are also taking place of biographies of famed figures Beyonce and Oprah Winfrey, along with Anne Frank's diary and "The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

HuffPost reported the biographies of other famed figures Nicki Minaj, Thurgood Marshall and Lady Gaga are also included.

HB 1069 became effective on July 1, 2023 and includes revisions for specified instruction relating to reproductive health and adds requirements for instruction regarding human sexuality. " ... District school boards are responsible for materials used in classroom libraries," the law states.

NBC reported HB 1069 was passed as a tool of regulation for teaching sex and gender identity in public schools.

An Escambia County School representative in a statement to The Messenger said the books that were pulled had not been banned.

"The 1000+ books they reference have not been banned or removed from the school district; rather, they have simply been pulled for further review to ensure compliance with the new legislation," the spokesperson told the outlet. "To suggest otherwise is disingenuous and counterproductive."

PEN America, Penguin Random House and authors sued Escambia County in federal court, claiming what the group says is a ban violates free speech rights and equal protection. A hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, per PEN America.

Read more via NBC News, The Messenger and HuffPost.