New College of Florida has sparked controversy after discarding hundreds of books, many of which focused on LGBTQ issues, race, and women’s rights. Photos shared by a Sarasota Herald-Tribune reporter revealed titles like “Cures: A Gay Man’s Odyssey” and “Feminist Thought” among the books tossed into dumpsters. The college defended the move as part of “longstanding annual procedures,” but the disposal coincides with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ efforts to shift the college’s progressive culture. The college also confirmed it had discarded books linked to its now-defunct gender studies program. Florida has seen a surge in book bans, particularly targeting works on race and LGBTQ themes, as new laws limit the teaching of sexual orientation, gender identity, and critical race theory in public schools. A PEN America study found that Florida led the nation in book bans during the 2022-23 school year. #Students & Youth Culture