‘Don’t Say Gay’ Is Now Law In Florida

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed the “Parental Rights in Education,” also known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

The bill has faced intense backlash. Critics claim the bill is intended to restrict discussion of LGBTQ2+ issues and would most affect children who come from LGBTQ2+ households or those who are exploring their gender identity at a young age.

DeSantis has pushed back against the description of the bill as “Don’t Say Gay.” The bill's proponents have argued that children should not be exposed to “sexual orientation or gender identity,” or LGBTQ2+ topics, at a young age.

“Parents’ rights have been increasingly under assault around the nation, but in Florida we stand up for the rights of parents and the fundamental role they play in the education of their children,” DeSantis said.

“Parents have every right to be informed about services offered to their child at school, and should be protected from schools using classroom instruction to sexualize their kids as young as 5 years old."

The bill prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation from kindergarten to third grade, and then encourages teachers to make the topics “age-appropriate” but does not defines what that means.

Critics claim the language is vague, making it broad enough to make educators question their comments in classrooms.

The bill prompted a walkout by Disney employees, who were critical of the entertainment company for donating to some politicians and political organizations that supported the bill.

DeSantis has passed a number of controversial laws involving curriculum, including material related to critical race theory, called the “Stop W.O.K.E. Act.”