Last week, Palm Beach County schools modified their new policy to allow for books prohibited by the “Don’t Say Gay” laws to be held in school libraries. This comes after State Attorney General Ashley Moody, a Republican, shared in August that the “Don’t Say Gay” laws do not apply to books in school libraries. Moody stated that the bills specifically refer to classroom instruction and therefore do not apply to library content.

Rohi’s Readery, a bookstore located in the Square in downtown West Palm Beach, was the subject of a TikTok video from a conservative TikToker in July. Since the incident, the store has received support nationally from activists and popular TikTokers from across the country rallied to the store’s defense, and the TikToker’s platform has been irrevocably damaged.

The first high school in Florida named after a gay man, Dr. Joaquín García High School, opened its doors last week for the first time. With over 1,600 students in attendance, this school stands among a handful of schools nationwide named in honor of LGBTQ people.

Florida trends almost daily for their negative news reports. In 2023, it's refreshing to see organizations like Palm Beach County Human Rights Council concentrate on bringing positive news to the forefront. PBCHRC recently announced the recipients of the 2023 Social Justice Award, the Norman L. Stern and August R. Venezio Scholarship, and the W. Rent Steele Legal Advocacy Award.