Staff at Bodacious Bookstore & Café in Pensacola, Florida, are grappling with a directive to remove LGBTQ titles, resulting in tensions among employees. Some, like a former employee who wished to remain anonymous, expressed deep distress when instructed to pull these books from the shelves, leading to emotional confrontations with management. Reports indicate that over 60 titles, including prominent LGBTQ stories, have been quietly removed as part of a broader review initiated after a customer complaint about profanity.
Independent bookstores have generally resisted the conservative trend of book censorship, yet Bodacious, located in Escambia County—recently embroiled in legal battles over book bans—has felt this pressure. Current management insists that no LGBTQ content is being targeted, framing the removals as part of a “family-friendly” initiative. However, dissenting voices among staff assert that the removals are discriminatory and inconsistent with the store’s mission of inclusivity.
Resignations have occurred among staff members, including Nichole Murphy, who documented the removals and resisted participation. Former manager Melissa Smith remarked that this isn’t the first instance of targeting LGBTQ literature in the store, recalling prior covert policies impacting children’s sections. The controversy has drawn public attention, including from authors like Ginny Myers Sain, who criticized the bookstore’s actions as detrimental to representation.
Despite claims from ownership that books are being temporarily reviewed, many observers question the criteria being used and whether LGBTQ families are welcomed in this “family-friendly” space. Employees fear that a strict vetting process may limit future orders of diverse literature, raising concerns about the implications for community engagement and inclusivity at the bookstore.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
