Pensacola State College: Administration Squashes Arts and Culture Magazine Over Queer Content

Students in journalism and graphic design classes at Pensacola State College collaborated to produce a lifestyle magazine focused on local arts and culture. On April 29, 2026, mere days before they were set to publish the publication, college officials told them articles about LGBT+ people and institutions in Pensacola had to be removed to comply with the Stop WOKE Act, a law restricting university-funded pro-DEI advocacy. On May 1, FIRE wrote PSC, explaining that barring the publication of these stories on the basis of viewpoint violated students' First Amendment free speech rights and was, thus, unconstitutional, as were the relevant provisions of the Stop WOKE Act. The college replied that it could not fund the publication’s printing if the LGBT+ stories were included. FIRE responded on May 12, arguing that the viewpoint-discriminatory denial of funding still violates the Constitution.