For Immediate Release: August 20, 2025

President Julie Kent, Florida National Organization for Women (FL NOW)

Orlando, FL — The Florida Chapter of the National Organization for Women (FL NOW) celebrates a major victory for intellectual freedom and youth rights following Judge Carlos Mendoza’s ruling that declared key provisions of Florida’s book ban law (HB 1069) unconstitutional.

“This ruling is a resounding affirmation of our First Amendment rights and a rejection of politically motivated censorship,” said Julie Kent, FL NOW President. “Florida’s attempt to erase diverse voices—especially those of women, LGBTQ+ authors, and communities of color—was not just wrong, it was illegal.”

HB 1069 led to the removal of hundreds of books from school libraries, including Beloved, The Bluest Eye, The Handmaid’s Tale, and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. The law allowed books to be pulled based on vague claims of “sexual conduct,” without regard for literary or educational value. Judge Mendoza ruled that this approach violated constitutional standards, including the Miller Test for obscenity.

“FL NOW has long opposed HB 1069 as part of a broader campaign against authoritarian attacks on education, reproductive rights, and gender equity in Florida. It was negiligent and cruel to remove books related to the LGBTQ+ community. This is about more than books,” said Debbie Deland, VP FL NOW. “It’s about the right of young people to see themselves reflected in literature, to learn history honestly, and to think critically.”

We call on the Florida Department of Education and local school districts to immediately restore banned titles and halt further censorship. We also urge lawmakers to stop weaponizing parental fear and start investing in inclusive, evidence-based education. We demand an unwashed American history that includes the American history of people of color.

📚 Freedom to read is freedom to think. FL NOW will continue fighting for both.

Media Contact: Debbie Deland, vp@flnow.org, 407 234-6408