Florida Senate passes “Don’t Say Gay” bill

metroweekly.com:

WESH.But opponents say that, despite the bill’s intent or language, in practice, teachers and administrators — even at the secondary levels — will preemptively ban any mention of LGBTQ issues for fear of being sued by litigious parents, sending an implicit message to LGBTQ youth that there is something wrong with them.Other opponents say the bill is a way for Republicans to pander to socially conservative voters ahead of the 2022 midterm elections this November — and for DeSantis to shore up his bona fides among socially conservative Republican primary voters for a future White House run — by demonizing LGBTQ youth.

They point to a controversial House amendment, which was scrapped prior to the final vote following a public backlash, which would have required teachers, counselors, and administrators to “out” students to their parents within six weeks of any disclosure by the student regarding their identity, as evidence that the bill is motivated by anti-LGBTQ animus.“In your effort to elect Ron DeSantis and send him to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, I just ask you: Is it worth it?

Is it worth it if one child is affected by this piece of legislation, what you’re doing today, I ask you: Is it worth it? Is it worth a child being outed or bullied or potentially becoming suicidal?” Sen.

Randolph Bracy (D-Orlando) said during debate.Critics also note that Gov. DeSantis’s press secretary, Christina Pushaw, called opponents of the bill “groomers” — employing a decades-old, well-worn trope that casts LGBTQ people as pedophiles who need to allegedly “recruit” children to grow their numbers —  as further evidence that the bill’s intent is to vilify, and erase the existence of, LGBTQ individuals.DeSantis, who has previously defended the.