The Florida Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would prohibit “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in the state’s primary schools. The measure, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by its opponents, was passed by the state House last month and now heads to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has previously expressed support for it.
“This is going to endanger the safety of our LGBTQ students and adolescents,” Sen. Annette Taddeo, a Democrat, said during Tuesday’s debate. “We will not stop until this state moves forward and actually values everyone in it, everyone no matter their sexual orientation.”
The Parental Rights in Education bill, which was passed in both legislative bodies largely along party lines, has added fuel to the latest American culture war, which has put students in its crosshairs with a combination of book bans, Pride flag removals and bills targeting LGBTQ youth. The measure has even grabbed the attention of international newspapers, Hollywood actors and the White House.
DeSantis says 'Don't Say Gay' bill 'misrepresented' in the media
MARCH 7, 202200:19
Supporters of the bill say it’s about allowing parents to have control over their children’s education, while opponents say it unfairly targets the LGBTQ community.
“This bill says parents your right to raise your children does not end when they walk into a classroom. This bill recognizes that parents are not the enemy,” Republican Sen. Danny Burgess said ahead of the 22-17 vote on Tuesday. “The bill simply says that there should be an age limit on certain discussions, it’s not a new concept, nor is it radical.”
The measure bans “classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity” in kindergarten through third grade. It also prohibits such teaching “in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students,” which critics say could be interpreted to extend to all grade levels. Parents can sue school districts for alleged violations.
In a tearful address to the Senate on Monday, Democrat Shevrin Jones, the first openly gay Florida state senator, urged his colleagues to narrow the bill’s language to say instruction should not be “intended to change a student’s sexual orientation or gender identity.”
“I ask that you open up your hearts just a tad bit,” he said, noting the name-calling and shunning he had faced as a gay man. “Please, do no harm.”
Jones’ proposed amendment failed.
Last week, students across Florida staged school walkouts in protest against the bill, which they decried as the state’s latest measure to limit the rights of LGBTQ students.
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“The language and the supporters of the bill and the rhetoric around the bill really shows what this bill is, and it’s an attempt to hurt queer people like me,” high school senior Jack Petocz said. Petocz, who organized the statewide protests through social media, told NBC News he was suspended “indefinitely” for distributing 200 Pride flags for the rally after having been advised not to do so by the principal.
The bill’s fate is now with DeSantis, who signaled his support for the measure for at least the second time when questioned by a reporter Monday.
“We’re going to make sure that parents are able to send their kid to kindergarten without having some of this stuff injected into their school curriculum,” he said.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona condemned the bill in a statement Tuesday. He said that parents are looking to national, state and district leaders to support students and help them recover from the pandemic by providing academic and mental health support.
"Instead, leaders in Florida are prioritizing hateful bills that hurt some of the students most in need," Cardona said. "The Department of Education has made clear that all schools receiving federal funding must follow federal civil rights law, including Title IX’s protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We stand with our LGBTQ+ students in Florida and across the country, and urge Florida leaders to make sure all their students are protected and supported."
If DeSantis signs the bill, it would go into effect July 1.
Having already passed the lower-house of the Florida state legislature, the bill that is commonly referred to as "Don't Say Gay" has now also passed the upper-house of the state's legislature. That means that it just requires the authorisation of the state's governor in order to become law.
The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, has indicated that he plans to authorise the legislation. On the current timetable, the new provisions would take effect from 1 July.
The Don't Say Gay bill prohibits “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in the state’s primary schools. Parents would be able to sue schools that they felt contravened the provisions of the legislation.
The success of the Don't Say Gay bill is seen as a victory for conservatives in the increasingly divisive "culture war" that is currently dominating US politics.
LGBTQ issues are seen as potential vote-winners by conservative politicians, resulting in debates about banning books that have queer themes, to removing Pride flags, and removing medical care for Trans people.
Advocates of the Don't Say bill contend that it's all about giving parents control over the education of their children, however the heated media coverage surrounding the debate quickly seems to conflate LGBTQ people with abuse of children - a trope fuelled by systemic homophobia.
The success of anti-LGBTQ legislation such as the Don't Say Gay bill in Florida sends a worrying signal to LGBTQ people around the world. This effectively rolls back important progress that had been made towards equality in the US. It illustrates that conservative politicians can effectively use LGBTQ people as a scapegoat issue - using homophobia as a weapon in pursuit of ultra socially conservative populist support.
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