T he Florida Senate passed the controversial so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill on Tuesday, sending the Republican-backed legislation banning LGBTQ instruction in primary schools to Gov. Ron DeSantis’. The Parental Rights in Education Act (HB ), commonly referred to as the Don't Say Gay law, is a Florida statute passed in that regulates public schools in Florida.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, seen here on Feb. 24, signed a bill into law Monday that restricts the education of LGBTQ topics in the state's public schools. Legislative History: Called the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by its critics, the measure was passed by the Florida legislature March 8 and awaits signature by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican. The bill was passed by Florida’s Republican-controlled House of Representatives on 24 February and the state Senate on 8 March.
The Week. 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.
Jul 11, AM. Profile My News Sign Out. Both the plaintiffs and the State of Florida claimed victory following the settlement. Governor DeSantis - widely regarded as a possible White House contender - endorsed the bill last month, saying it was part of a wider effort to make the education system "transparent" to parents.
The bill's full name is almost words long, so naturally, some sort of nickname had to be devised.
Todd and Jeff Delmay - one of the first same-sex couples to get married in Florida - say this bill would make it impossible for their year-old son Blake to talk freely about his dads. Florida Gov. Get more news Live on. Escape your echo chamber. From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
What will Trump do on day one? Even as this legal battle continues, DeSantis has worked to expand the bill by approving a ban on all classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity from grades four through 12, The Associated Press reports. Many of these types of restrictions have since spread to other conservative-led states.
Stream on. The settlement, announced Monday, clarifies the scope of the legislation, which prohibits any classroom curriculum about sexual orientation or gender identity for students in kindergarten through third grade. Florida's House of Representatives has also moved to enact similar legislation backed by DeSantis, AP notes, including restrictions on gender-affirming treatment, bathroom use, and the legality of children in drag shows.
Theara Coleman has worked as a staff writer at The Week since September InCampfield, by then a state Senator, reintroduced the legislation, which also included language that could be interpreted as requiring educators to "out" gay students to their parents. 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.
Sign in View Profile Sign out. Ron DeSantis, who has previously expressed support for it. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives. Some of the bill's critics took its nickname literally. Proponents of the bill tend to focus on the part that bans instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity "in kindergarten through grade three.
The bill also empowers parents to sue schools and teachers that violate this ban, enhancing the ability of Florida's parents to object to their children's curricula.
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