Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has refuted claims that the state has banned ‘The Diary of Anne Frank,’ emphasizing that the book remains part of the state’s 8th-grade curriculum and recommended reading list. The dispute arose after California Democratic state senator Scott Wiener posted an article from The Guardian alleging that ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ had been banned in Florida.
DeSantis responded on social media, calling the claims ‘another lie debunked’ and pointing out that the book is actually on the state’s recommended reading list. However, Wiener’s office clarified that the reference was to a different incident where a graphic version of the book was removed from shelves in Hillsborough County School District due to state pressures, not a complete ban. The situation unfolded after The Guardian reported that Florida had the highest rate of book bans nationwide in 2025, citing the removal of ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ from school libraries.
Wiener’s office stated that the incident stemmed from the aggressive crackdown by the Florida Department of Education on schools that did not comply with its demands. More than 600 books were removed from school shelves in response to threats of legal action. Among the books pulled were ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ and ‘What Girls Are Made of’ by Elana K Arnold. The Guardian reported that none of these books were under formal review by the district, and they hadn’t been flagged by parents as potentially inappropriate. Parents had the opportunity to opt their children out of certain readings without removing the books entirely for all students.
DeSantis’ ‘Parental Rights in Education Act,’ which critics call the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law, restricts classroom discussions on ‘sexual orientation’ or ‘gender identity’ for K-12 students. The law has sparked significant debate and has been criticized for its broad implications. DeSantis’ office and Hillsborough County School District officials have not yet commented on the issue. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions around book bans and educational policies in the state. The debate over freedom of speech and educational content continues to divide political factions, with critics on both sides advocating for their respective stances.