History of Lauren Book in Timeline

Lauren Frances Book is an American politician associated with the Democratic Party. She has represented parts of Broward County in the Florida Senate since 2016. As of April 28, 2021, she holds the position of Senate minority leader. Before her political career, she worked in the field of education.

October 12, 1984: Birth of Lauren Book

Lauren Frances Book was born on October 12, 1984, in Hollywood, Florida.

1984: Early Life and Childhood Trauma

Lauren Book was born in 1984 and raised in Hollywood, Florida. Tragically, she endured six years of sexual abuse by her nanny during her childhood.

2002: Nanny's Conviction and Sentencing

In 2002, Lauren Book's former nanny was found guilty of five felony charges related to the sexual abuse Book endured. The nanny received a 10-year prison sentence, which was later extended to 25 years.

2007: Lauren's Kids Founded

In 2007, driven by her personal experience, Lauren Book established "Lauren's Kids," a charitable organization dedicated to advocating for stricter penalties for sex offenders and supporting survivors.

2008: Graduation and Teaching Career

Lauren Book graduated from the University of Miami in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education. She then dedicated a year to teaching in Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

2008: Marriage to Kris Lim

Lauren Book married professional golfer Kris Lim in 2008. Their wedding was featured on the television show "Platinum Weddings."

2010: Divorce from Kris Lim

Lauren Book and Kris Lim divorced in 2010.

2010: Advocacy Through "Walk in My Shoes" and Publications

Since 2010, Lauren Book has annually led "Walk in My Shoes," a 1,500-mile walk from Key West to Tallahassee, Florida, to raise awareness about child sexual abuse. She has also authored two books, "Lauren's Kingdom" and "It's OK to Tell: A Story of Hope and Recovery," and developed an abuse prevention curriculum for Florida kindergartens.

2012: Master's Degree in Community Psychology

In 2012, Lauren Book obtained her master's degree in community psychology from the University of Miami.

2015: Marriage to Blair Byrnes

Lauren Book married Blair Byrnes in 2015.

2016: Unopposed Election to Florida Senate

In 2016, Lauren Book ran unopposed for the 32nd district seat in the Florida Senate.

February 16, 2017: Birth of Twins

Lauren Book and her husband, Blair Byrnes, welcomed twins on February 16, 2017.

April 26, 2017: Proposal to Remove Confederate Holidays

On April 26, 2017, Lauren Book proposed a bill to eliminate Confederate Memorial Day from Florida's list of legal holidays. The bill also aimed to remove the birthdays of Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis as state holidays.

July 22, 2019: Request for Probe into Jeffrey Epstein Case

On July 22, 2019, Lauren Book sent a letter to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, urging a probe into the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office's management of Jeffrey Epstein's work release program.

2020: Image Exploitation

It came to light in 2020 that nude images of Lauren Book had been circulating online, bought and sold without her consent.

April 28, 2021: Book Becomes Senate Minority Leader

On April 28, 2021, following a no-confidence vote in then-leader Gary Farmer, the Democratic caucus chose Book to serve as minority leader.

2021: Cyberstalking and Extortion Attempt

In 2021, a 19-year-old Florida resident was arrested and charged with cyberstalking and attempting to extort Lauren Book. The individual had threatened to release nude images of Book.

2022: Primary Election Victory and Endorsements

In 2022, Lauren Book faced a contentious primary challenge from former Broward County Mayor Barbara Sharief. Book secured victory in the primary, receiving endorsements from various figures and organizations, including Broward County Commissioner Steven A. Geller, the Sierra Club, the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Florida Education Association, and others.

2022: Book Selected as Democratic Leader

In 2022, with the decision of incoming Senate leader Bobby Powell to run for Congress, the Democratic caucus unanimously selected Lauren Book as their leader for the 2022-24 legislature.

April 3, 2023: Arrest at Anti-Abortion Bill Protest

On April 3, 2023, Lauren Book and Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried were arrested during a protest against a proposed anti-abortion bill in Tallahassee. They were charged with trespassing for refusing to disperse after being instructed by the Tallahassee Police Department.