“And Tango Makes Three” authors score legal victory in Florida book ban case
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The Nassau County School District has reached a settlement that will allow "And Tango Makes Three" and 35 other previously banned books to return to its libraries, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over censorship in education. The district removed the books in November 2023 following complaints from the conservative advocacy group Citizens Defending Freedom, which claimed that some titles contained "obscene" material. Initially, the district cited a lack of circulation as a reason for the removals, but the settlement acknowledges the educational value of "And Tango Makes Three," a children's book about a same-sex penguin couple. While all 36 books are set to be reinstated by September 13, twelve titles, including "Beloved" by Toni Morrison, will undergo a formal review process to assess their compliance with state obscenity laws. During this review, students under 18 will need parental permission to access these titles.
The settlement also mandates that the review process be conducted in public meetings, allowing community members to voice their opinions. This legal victory for the authors and local parents underscores the importance of transparency and public involvement in determining educational content. Similar issues are being raised in other districts, as highlighted by a separate lawsuit from major book publishers against Florida school boards for removing books without due process.