Florida Expands “Don’t Say Gay” Law to All Grades
metroweekly.combar them from participating in some school activities — or will shame students who are being raised by same-sex parents.“This policy will escalate the government censorship sweeping our state, exacerbate our educator exodus, drive hardworking families from Florida, and further stigmatize and isolate a population of young people who need our support now more than ever,” Equality Florida, the state’s top LGBTQ advocacy group, said in a statement posted to Twitter.“Shame on the DeSantis Administration for putting a target on the backs of LGBTQ Floridians.”The new rule will take effect in one month after it goes through a procedural comment period, according to The Associated Press.The law’s expansion marks the latest move by the DeSantis administration targeting the LGBTQ community as the two-term governor seeks to elevate himself as a potential presidential contender in 2024.
DeSantis has branded himself as a socially conservative warrior against “woke” ideology in society, pushing back against a host of ideas or social justice actions that stray from traditional worldviews, including the idea of LGBTQ inclusion.
While DeSantis has not commented on the expansion directly, Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr., a DeSantis appointee, has argued the rule regarding professional conduct is needed to clarify confusion around the existing law and reinforce the idea that teachers should not deviate from existing curriculum, only using previously vetted textbooks, reading material, and lesson plans.However, when DeSantis first signed the law into effect, he claimed schools were trying to “sexualize” children as young as five years old, arguing that the measure was needed in order to give parents control over their children’s.
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