What Is Florida S Don T Say Gay Bill

The bill, called “Don’t Say Gay” by its critics, but officially known as the “Parental Rights in Education” bill, states that “teaching in the classroom by school staff or third parties about Sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through [third grade]”Or” in a way that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students according to state standards “in other classes. It further states that parents “can sue a school district for a decision” and a court may award damages and a lawyer’s fees if it finds that a school has breached the measure. The bill was approved by the Republican-controlled Florida House of Representatives on Feb. 24 and the state Senate on March 8. Governor DeSantis signed it into law on March 28, which means its terms will take effect on July 1, with all school district plans due by June 2023. LGBT + advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit against Mr. DeSantis and state educators to block law enforcement on March 31. Democratic lawmakers have proposed a series of amendments to clarify the bill’s intent or to separate its apparent intent from its impact by deleting language that could target LGBT + students and their families. They all failed. A Republican amendment proposed requiring schools to disclose whether a child is LGBT + to their parents within six weeks of learning they were not straight – but withdrew before the bill reached Parliament.

Why LGBT + supporters in Florida oppose the bill

The bill has drawn widespread criticism in Florida and beyond, with opponents arguing that it would effectively silence vulnerable LGBT + students and hinder or harm their personal development, while potentially violating teachers’ freedom of speech and the rights of the First. Modification. Thousands of high school students staged a sit-in to protest the bill, and a large demonstration took place outside the Capitol building as lawmakers debated the law. The bill was debated in the Senate on March 7, where Severin Jones – the first openly LGBT + Republican-dominated Florida Senate – made an emotional appeal to supporters of the bill to drop it because it could “pull out” »LGBT + students are violent and have a creepy effect on LGBT + people and issues in Florida schools. “Looking at these kids, I do not think you understand how much courage it takes to show up every day,” Jones said, reflecting on his father’s “frustration” and the insults he received after he went public. Republican lawmakers insist the bill is intended simply to keep parents “informed and involved” in their children’s education and that critics are “completely uninformed about what the bill does,” he said. according to a leader of the bill. sponsors, Republican Rep. Joe Harding. However, critics say supporters of the law have failed to provide comfort to LGBT + students and families, raising concerns that proponents of the measure believe they are unfounded or overrated. Critics of the bill also argue that right-wing supporters have armed the language of the bill, reviving attacks on LGBT + people to bolster public support for the bill. One of the most outspoken supporters of the proposal is Trump’s ally of the governor and possible Republican candidate for the 2024 presidency, Mr. DeSantis. He signed the bill March 28 at a ceremony surrounded by students and administrators, saying the bill would ensure that “parents can send their children to school for education rather than catechism.” Speaking at a news conference last month, Governor DeSantis said: “My goal is to educate children on topics, math, reading, science, all the things that are so important. “I do not want schools to be a playground for ideological conflicts.” The governor claims that the bill refers to “sexual things” and “tells children that they can choose sex and all that” – none of which is included in the bill. “How many parents want their kindergartens to have ‘transsexuals’ or something like that in class discussion?” asked. On March 7, he attacked a journalist who asked if he supported the bill, claiming it would only affect kindergarten students up to third grade. The account is not limited to these points. Teaching in the classroom about sexual orientation and gender identity would be prohibited at all levels of the classroom if “appropriate age” was not considered. “We will make sure that parents can send their children to kindergarten without having some of this material injected into their curriculum,” the governor said. Press secretary Christina Pushaw called it an “anti-grooming bill”, reviving attacks on LGBT + people who suggest LGBT + people are pedophiles. Her comments were echoed on social media by other right-wing media executives and other Republican officials. The LGBT + Equality Florida advocacy group said in a statement that it “said the quiet thing out loud: that this bill is based on the belief that LGBTQ people, simply because they exist, are a threat to children and should be removed.” After hours of debate before the Senate vote, supporter of the bill, Ileana Garcia, argued that “gays are not a permanent thing” and “LGBTs are not a permanent thing.” The bill’s sponsor, Dennis Baxley – asked why the bill does not address suicide or drug use, among other difficult issues in the classroom – and suggested that “all these issues are addressed on the issue of sexuality and gender”, adding: that he does not “understand why it is such a big wave right now”. Equality Florida and a group of Florida families filed a lawsuit to block law enforcement in U.S. District Court March 31, calling the measure an “illegal attempt to stigmatize, silence, and expel LGBTQ individuals in Florida public schools.” . “This attempt to control the minds of young people through state censorship – and to degrade LGBTQ lives by denying their reality – is a serious abuse of power,” the 80-page complaint said.

Because Disney is on fire

The Walt Disney Company – a huge political force in Florida – has faced growing calls to condemn the bill. After weeks of protests, CEO Bob Chapek said he had spoken to Governor DeSantis and requested a meeting with his office and Disney’s LGBT + staff – after the bill was passed by the state legislature. On March 11, Mr. Chapek announced that the company would begin “immediately” supporting efforts to combat similar legislation in other states and would stop “all political donations” to the state pending a review of the company’s bidding policy. acknowledging that the company has failed to become a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights. “ The Independent review of state campaign finance records found that several Disney entities donated tens of thousands of dollars to Florida lawmakers who supported the bill, including at least $ 4,000 in its 2022 re-election campaigns for its main sponsor. Harding and State Senator Dennis Baxley. Disney entities also donated $ 50,000 to a political action committee affiliated with the governor in 2021. For weeks, LGBT + employees and their supporters at the company – which advertises its history as a LGBT-friendly workplace and celebrates its varied programming – have been urging the company to speak out against the measure. The company’s LGBT + employees and staff oppose the law, staging daily strikes to protest the bill and pressuring Disney to suspend indefinitely all campaign donations to government officials who created or helped vote on the measure. other requests urging the company to increase its support for LGBT + individuals and their families. The actions culminate in a full working day of detoxification or “patient” on March 22. In a staff note issued hours before the Republican-controlled Florida Senate debated the bill before its final vote, Chapek said “corporate statements do too little to change results or mindsets” and “often armed on one side or the other for further division. and inflammation. “ He said the company’s films and programs “are more powerful than any tweet or lobbying effort”. During a shareholders’ meeting on March 9, Mr Chapek broke his silence on the bill, saying the company was “against the bill from the beginning” and that he had spoken to Governor DeSantis “to express our frustration and “Our concern is that if the law becomes law, it could be used to unjustly target gay lesbians, non-binary and trans children and families.” A statement from the governor’s office said his position on the measure “has not changed” since the call with Mr Chapek and that a personal meeting has not yet been scheduled.

What the White House says

US President Joe Biden told Florida students in a Twitter message in February that “they are loved and accepted as you are.” “I have your back and my government will continue to fight for the protection and security you deserve,” he said. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki also denounced the legislation. “Every parent hopes that our leaders will ensure the safety, protection and freedom of their children,” he said. “Today, conservative politicians in Florida have rejected these core values.”

title: “What Is Florida S Don T Say Gay Bill " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-20” author: “Dwayne Frenzel”

The bill, called “Don’t Say Gay” by its critics, but officially known as the “Parental Rights in Education” bill, states that “teaching in the classroom by school staff or third parties about Sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through [third grade]”Or” in a way that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students according to state standards “in other classes. It further states that parents “can sue a school district for a decision” and a court may award damages and a lawyer’s fees if it finds that a school has breached the measure. The bill was approved by the Republican-controlled Florida House of Representatives on Feb. 24 and the state Senate on March 8. Governor DeSantis signed it into law on March 28, which means its terms will take effect on July 1, with all school district plans due by June 2023. LGBT + advocacy groups have filed a lawsuit against Mr. DeSantis and state educators to block law enforcement on March 31. Democratic lawmakers have proposed a series of amendments to clarify the bill’s intent or to separate its apparent intent from its impact by deleting language that could target LGBT + students and their families. They all failed. A Republican amendment proposed requiring schools to disclose whether a child is LGBT + to their parents within six weeks of learning they were not straight – but withdrew before the bill reached Parliament.

Why LGBT + supporters in Florida oppose the bill

The bill has drawn widespread criticism in Florida and beyond, with opponents arguing that it would effectively silence vulnerable LGBT + students and hinder or harm their personal development, while potentially violating teachers’ freedom of speech and the rights of the First. Modification. Thousands of high school students staged a sit-in to protest the bill, and a large demonstration took place outside the Capitol building as lawmakers debated the law. The bill was debated in the Senate on March 7, where Severin Jones – the first openly LGBT + Republican-dominated Florida Senate – made an emotional appeal to supporters of the bill to drop it because it could “pull out” »LGBT + students are violent and have a creepy effect on LGBT + people and issues in Florida schools. “Looking at these kids, I do not think you understand how much courage it takes to show up every day,” Jones said, reflecting on his father’s “frustration” and the insults he received after he went public. Republican lawmakers insist the bill is intended simply to keep parents “informed and involved” in their children’s education and that critics are “completely uninformed about what the bill does,” he said. according to a leader of the bill. sponsors, Republican Rep. Joe Harding. However, critics say supporters of the law have failed to provide comfort to LGBT + students and families, raising concerns that proponents of the measure believe they are unfounded or overrated. Critics of the bill also argue that right-wing supporters have armed the language of the bill, reviving attacks on LGBT + people to bolster public support for the bill. One of the most outspoken supporters of the proposal is Trump’s ally of the governor and possible Republican candidate for the 2024 presidency, Mr. DeSantis. He signed the bill March 28 at a ceremony surrounded by students and administrators, saying the bill would ensure that “parents can send their children to school for education rather than catechism.” Speaking at a news conference last month, Governor DeSantis said: “My goal is to educate children on topics, math, reading, science, all the things that are so important. “I do not want schools to be a playground for ideological conflicts.” The governor claims that the bill refers to “sexual things” and “tells children that they can choose sex and all that” – none of which is included in the bill. “How many parents want their kindergartens to have ‘transsexuals’ or something like that in class discussion?” asked. On March 7, he attacked a journalist who asked if he supported the bill, claiming it would only affect kindergarten students up to third grade. The account is not limited to these points. Teaching in the classroom about sexual orientation and gender identity would be prohibited at all levels of the classroom if “appropriate age” was not considered. “We will make sure that parents can send their children to kindergarten without having some of this material injected into their curriculum,” the governor said. Press secretary Christina Pushaw called it an “anti-grooming bill”, reviving attacks on LGBT + people who suggest LGBT + people are pedophiles. Her comments were echoed on social media by other right-wing media executives and other Republican officials. The LGBT + Equality Florida advocacy group said in a statement that it “said the quiet thing out loud: that this bill is based on the belief that LGBTQ people, simply because they exist, are a threat to children and should be removed.” After hours of debate before the Senate vote, supporter of the bill, Ileana Garcia, argued that “gays are not a permanent thing” and “LGBTs are not a permanent thing.” The bill’s sponsor, Dennis Baxley – asked why the bill does not address suicide or drug use, among other difficult issues in the classroom – and suggested that “all these issues are addressed on the issue of sexuality and gender”, adding: that he does not “understand why it is such a big wave right now”. Equality Florida and a group of Florida families filed a lawsuit to block law enforcement in U.S. District Court March 31, calling the measure an “illegal attempt to stigmatize, silence, and expel LGBTQ individuals in Florida public schools.” . “This attempt to control the minds of young people through state censorship – and to degrade LGBTQ lives by denying their reality – is a serious abuse of power,” the 80-page complaint said.

Because Disney is on fire

The Walt Disney Company – a huge political force in Florida – has faced growing calls to condemn the bill. After weeks of protests, CEO Bob Chapek said he had spoken to Governor DeSantis and requested a meeting with his office and Disney’s LGBT + staff – after the bill was passed by the state legislature. On March 11, Mr. Chapek announced that the company would begin “immediately” supporting efforts to combat similar legislation in other states and would stop “all political donations” to the state pending a review of the company’s bidding policy. acknowledging that the company has failed to become a stronger ally in the fight for equal rights. “ The Independent review of state campaign finance records found that several Disney entities donated tens of thousands of dollars to Florida lawmakers who supported the bill, including at least $ 4,000 in its 2022 re-election campaigns for its main sponsor. Harding and State Senator Dennis Baxley. Disney entities also donated $ 50,000 to a political action committee affiliated with the governor in 2021. For weeks, LGBT + employees and their supporters at the company – which advertises its history as a LGBT-friendly workplace and celebrates its varied programming – have been urging the company to speak out against the measure. The company’s LGBT + employees and staff oppose the law, staging daily strikes to protest the bill and pressuring Disney to suspend indefinitely all campaign donations to government officials who created or helped vote on the measure. other requests urging the company to increase its support for LGBT + individuals and their families. The actions culminate in a full working day of detoxification or “patient” on March 22. In a staff note issued hours before the Republican-controlled Florida Senate debated the bill before its final vote, Chapek said “corporate statements do too little to change results or mindsets” and “often armed on one side or the other for further division. and inflammation. “ He said the company’s films and programs “are more powerful than any tweet or lobbying effort”. During a shareholders’ meeting on March 9, Mr Chapek broke his silence on the bill, saying the company was “against the bill from the beginning” and that he had spoken to Governor DeSantis “to express our frustration and “Our concern is that if the law becomes law, it could be used to unjustly target gay lesbians, non-binary and trans children and families.” A statement from the governor’s office said his position on the measure “has not changed” since the call with Mr Chapek and that a personal meeting has not yet been scheduled.

What the White House says

US President Joe Biden told Florida students in a Twitter message in February that “they are loved and accepted as you are.” “I have your back and my government will continue to fight for the protection and security you deserve,” he said. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki also denounced the legislation. “Every parent hopes that our leaders will ensure the safety, protection and freedom of their children,” he said. “Today, conservative politicians in Florida have rejected these core values.”