Posted on by Randy Slovacek

Florida County Bans Children’s Book About A “Hugging Lion”

A shelf holding LGBTQ themed books in a library
(stock image via Depositphotos)

Officials in Manatee, Florida, have removed from library shelves a 32-page children’s book titled, “Christian, the Hugging Lion,” which tells the story of two men who raise a lion named Christian in a London apartment.

When Christian becomes too big, the two men release the lion into the wild in Africa. When the men go to visit Christian in Africa, they find that he remembers them. The book is based on a true story.

More from the Tallahassee Democrat:

The district cited The Parental Rights in Education Act as the reason for removing the book from district libraries. The Parental Rights in Education Act has a line prohibiting the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in classrooms.

While the two men, John and Ace, lived together in London and raised Christian the lion, it is never explicitly said in the book whether the two men were in a relationship.

So, apparently, children can’t read about two men possibly being roommates…?

The creators of “Christian, the Hugging Lion” are also the authors of “And Tango Makes Three,” the acclaimed children’s book about two male penguins raising a baby penguin, which has already been banned in Florida.

The authors already have a lawsuit filed in federal court over that case.

Manatee County also banned “Michelangelo (Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists)” by Mike Venezia, a children’s book about famed Italian artist Michelangelo, over obscenity claims. Last year, a parent complained a Renaissance art lesson included images of Michelangelo’s “David,” calling the photo “pornographic.”

According to the Florida Department of Education, 386 books were removed from library shelves last year based on 1,218 total objections.

(h/t JoeMyGod)