BANNED in 0 Florida county schools. Challenged in 63 Florida counties.
Florida activist and founder of Revolt Research Chaz Stevens submitted formal objections to the Holy Bible in 63 Florida school districts in 2022. His objections followed the passing of Florida HB 1467 earlier that year, which allows parents and county residents to challenge library books in their school district.
Stevens’ objections to the Bible echoed many of the same arguments commonly used by book banners, citing concerns about “age appropriateness,” “bestiality and rape,” “wokeness,” and “socio-emotional learning.” But Stevens is clear about his anti-book banning position: “Let’s be honest — banning books is never a good idea, but what’s fair is fair, and with that in mind, please find attached my request to ban the Bible.”
Stevens’ highly publicized Bible banning stunt inspired others to do the same. Rabbi and former Florida Representative Barry Silver of Palm Beach County compiled a list of Bible verses he argued violated DeSantis’ Parental Rights in Education Act, stating, “I’m showing that every single category that Gov. (Ron) DeSantis comes up with to ban a book, the Bible is at the top of the list of all of them.”
Sarah Holland, an employee of Escambia County Public Schools, also objected to the Bible in her district on similar grounds. In her objection, she argued the Bible “Causes Religious Trauma Syndrome” and that its purpose was to “indoctronate children in Christianity.”
Following Holland’s objection, Escambia County Public Schools temporarily removed the Bible from library shelves before returning it without completing a formal review process. The district cited Florida Statute 1003.45(1), which authorizes school boards to include “an objective study of the Bible and of religion” as part of a secular education.
In practice, Statute 1003.45(1) prevents the Bible from being banned in Florida schools. But that doesn’t mean its objections didn’t have an impact.
In 2024, DeSantis narrowed book banning laws by limiting non-parent residents to one book challenge per month. Explaining the change, he stated, “The idea that someone can use the parents’ rights and the curriculum transparency to start objecting to every single book to try to make a mockery of this is just wrong. That’s performative. That’s political.”