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Florida governor signs bill limiting LGBTQ instruction in schools

Published 03/28/2022, 12:56 PM
Updated 03/29/2022, 04:46 AM
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, U.S. February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: U.S. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Orlando, Florida, U.S. February 24, 2022. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo

By Maria Caspani

(Reuters) -Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a Republican-backed bill that bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for many young students, drawing swift criticism from companies, Democrats and advocacy groups.

The legislation, referred to by its opponents as the "don't say gay" bill, has stirred national controversy and got attention during Sunday's Oscars telecast amid an increasingly partisan debate over what schools should teach children about race and gender.

Formally called the "Parental Rights in Education" bill, the Florida measure bars classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for children in kindergarten through third grade, or from about ages 5-9, in public schools.

It also prohibits such teaching that "is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate" for students in other grades.

Under the law, which takes effect on July 1, parents will be allowed to sue school districts they believe to be in violation.

"We will continue to recognize that in the state of Florida, parents have a fundamental role in the education, healthcare and well being of their children," DeSantis told reporters on Monday. "I don't care what big corporations say, here I stand. I'm not backing down."

DeSantis, who is seeking re-election this year and is widely considered to be running for president in 2024, has joined other Republicans nationwide in calling for parents to have more control of what young children learn in school.

The Republican governor signed the bill into law at a charter school in Spring Hill, north of Tampa, surrounded by young school children and parents who shared personal stories they said showed the new law is needed.

Students across Florida have protested the measure, and President Joe Biden previously called it "hateful."

The hosts of the Oscars ceremony referenced the bill, while best actress winner Jessica Chastain in her acceptance speech denounced "discriminatory and bigoted" legislation sweeping the country.

After DeSantis signed the bill on Monday, a Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) Co spokesperson said the legislation "should never have passed and should never have been signed into law. Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts."

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is the company’s largest theme park. Its sprawling businesses also include movie studios, broadcast and cable television networks, streaming services, cruise lines and retail products.

Civil rights group Lambda Legal said it would challenge the law in court. "Our young people are not political pawns," Chief Executive Kevin Jennings said in a statement.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: A demonstrator wearing a rainbow colour face mask takes part in a protest as Disney's employees demonstrate against Florida's

The legislation has been criticized for the vagueness and complexity of some of its language. For example, it says that even discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation is prohibited "in certain grade levels or in a specified manner."

The Florida Education Association, a teachers union, called the law a "political stunt" vulnerable to legal challenges.

Latest comments

if this guy thinks he will be president, he is got something else coming.
Oh he will lowlife
Great man! Leave our children out of the dem's wicked kinks!
The republican taliban, hellbent on setting the clock back to medieval times. This is 2022, the world has moved on, deal with it
tolerance of people different than us god forbid never, but guns all over the place, of course yessss. sad political party!
factual and balance heh heh heh, that idea left the GOP with the tea party.
agree tolerance is good and the gop **** However, I think banning the teaching of gender identity and sexuality in pre-pubscient kids is, well, quite reasonable
Rare W for the government
Green shoots of sanity
there"s been a lot of rumors about the good governor..I suppose he"s covering his behind.. if you know what I mean...
so many bigots, white rascists and closet queens, afraid of those secret sexual feelings they have.....and afraid someone will find out.
Must be a CNN LibTarrd.
well john how long have you been in the closet...
Wonderful news, so there is hope
The lgtb+ mobb can go and f themselves
Nice to see a white man stand up to all this ***
yes larry how white of you......
Desantis is the only making sense im this leftist dystopian world.
do you even know what dystopian means....such a big word for knuckle walker to use ....
this shouldnt be controversial at all.  who taught teaching ****to children was a good idea... most likely a pervert
No one is stopping the parents who want their child to hear about it from doing so at home, and that's their freedom.  Anyone can appreciate that there has to be a line drawn between what should be taught by parents and what should be taught in public schools.  The more that line disappears the closer you come to pure communism where the state raises your child from birth, and they're already financially supporting many children.
Seems reasonable. if schools cant discuss God then they shouldn't be allowed to discuss perversion either.
I went to elementary, middle, and high school in one of the Virginia counties that you types like to say are radical leftist about 5 years ago. Your statement is completely out of touch. All sorts of common issues were discussed in an educational capacity where appropriate for the age level, including God and religion. The reason for this bill is clear in your comment: Christian oppression of what they believe is "perverted" at the cost of the mental and physical well-being of students. DeSantis is obviously acting out of political motivation, not what's good for kids. Think about the cognitive dissonance it takes to say that you're anti-big government and then try to control how others live their lives.
Good. we don't need this *******tough in our schools. Bad enough it's all over the TV now days.
Our Schools?  Ahem, these are owned and run by the "State" with the sole purpose of indoctrinating YOUR kids. Wake TF up!
the woke liberals really do think that way
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