Superstar Pink said she plans to give away thousands of what she called “banned” books during her upcoming tour stops in Florida following legislation which prohibits classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.
During an Instagram Live on Sunday, the 44-year-old pop star announced she’s teamed up with the PEN America non-profit organization to give away 2,000 books throughout her four concert dates in the state which she said are “banned.”
“Books have held a special joy for me from the time I was a child, and that’s why I am unwilling to stand by and watch while books are banned by schools,” Pink said in a press release.
“It’s especially hateful to see authorities take aim at books about race and racism and against LGBTQ authors and those of color,” she added in her statement. “We have made so many strides toward equality in this country and no one should want to see this progress reversed. No more banned books.”
Periodic reminder that when they accuse us of “banning books” they’re referring to p0rnographic books which are offered to kids in schools across the country. For some reason they never provide visuals…
Now Pink is pledging to give kids p0rnographic books in Florida. Why would… pic.twitter.com/H2Nq0LEMGm
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) November 13, 2023
“I’m a voracious reader and I’m a mom of two kids who are also voracious readers,” Pink continued in her Instagram Live. “I can’t imagine my own parents telling me what my kids can and cannot read — let alone someone else’s parents, let alone someone else that doesn’t even have children that are deciding what my children can read.”
In 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed the Parental Rights in Education law 1557 which prohibits classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools in the Sunshine state, as previously reported.
The “Just Give Me A Reason” hitmaker has been an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ community and previously talked about the queer community’s support of her.
“I think [my LGBTQ+ following] just speaks to who I am and what I believe in, and what I’ve always been,” Pink told the Gay Times. “I am definitely an ally and to be understood for that is a wonderful feeling. For any of us to be understood, that’s what we want in life, right? We want to love, be loved and be seen.”