“Don’t Say Gay” bill passed, and what that means

The legislation states that classroom instruction on “sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade three or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”

The bill also opens the doors for parents to sue Florida schools if these discussions take place, and it requires schools to alert parents if there’s any change to a student’s mental, emotional or physical health.

The Florida House of Representatives previously passed the bill Feb. 24.

With the Senate passage, the bill now heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis’s desk. If he signs it into law, it will go into effect July 1.

The governor has indicated he supports the bill, and defended it during a news conference in Jacksonville on Friday.

“When you actually look at the bill and it says ‘no sexual instruction to kids pre-K through three,’ how many parents want their kids to have transgenderism or something injected into classroom instruction?” said DeSantis. “It’s basically saying for our younger students, do you really want them being taught about sex? And this is any sexual stuff. But I think clearly right now, we see a focus on transgenderism, telling kids they may be able to pick genders and all of that.”

The governor has not produced any evidence that what he claims to be so afraid of is actually happening anywhere in Florida.

LGBTQ+ activists throughout Florida and nationally have slammed the bill.

“The ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, which bans discussion of LGBTQ people or issues in primary grades, would further stigmatize the LGBTQ community, chill efforts to create inclusive school environments, and isolate LGBTQ kids who are already at staggeringly higher risk of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation than their peers,” said Equality Florida, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ advocacy group, in a statement.

Advocates with the Human Rights Watch have also spoken out against the bill, saying that if the law goes into effect, “Florida is moving in the wrong direction.”

“Teachers should not fear punishment if they celebrate diversity or let kids know that it’s okay to be LGBT,” one researcher with the organization said, “and students should not be cut off from affirming information and support.”

Read More Via MiamiTimesOnline.com