"Even worse, #DontSayGay sends a hateful message to our most vulnerable youth who simply need our support. If teachers go against this policy, families could sue the school and the teacher. "The bill's intentionally vague language leaves teachers afraid to talk to their students and opens up school districts to costly and frivolous litigation from those seeking to exclude LGBTQ people from any grade level," state representative Carlos Smith, a Democrat who is gay, said. The Parental Rights in Education bill, better known as the Don’t Say Gay bill, is designed to prevent school educators and staff from discussing topics related to gender and sexuality in the classroom. Throughout debates in the Republican-controlled statehouse, Democrats said the bill's language, particularly the phrases "classroom instruction" and "age appropriate", could be interpreted so broadly that discussion in any school year could trigger lawsuits and create a classroom atmosphere where teachers would avoid the subjects entirely. Make no mistake, by signing the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, Ron DeSantis is taking the side of hatred, bullying and discrimination and sending a clear message to children in Florida that he doesn’t care about them or their families if he can use their pain to score political points with his base,' Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz said. Image: Disney suspended its political donations in Florida over the legislationĪfter Mr DeSantis signed the measure, the company released a statement saying: "Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organisations working to achieve that." Public backlash began almost immediately after the bill was introduced, with early criticism by Chasten Buttigieg, the husband of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and condemnation from LGBTQ advocacy groups.ĭemocratic President Joe Biden called it "hateful".Īs the bill moved through the legislature, celebrities mobilised against it on social media and it was criticised at the Oscars on Sunday night. Parents would be able to sue school heads over violations of the law. The legislation says: "Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards."
He and other speakers stood at a podium adorned with a placard reading "Protect Children/Support Parents".Ĭritics say the bill is so vaguely worded that speech could be muzzled throughout state schools. Image: High school students in Florida say the bill will marginalise LGBTQ people