TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Republicans on Tuesday passed a bill to forbid instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, rejecting a wave of criticism from Democrats that it marginalizes LGBTQ people.
The proposal, which opponents have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, now moves to the desk of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into law.
Since its inception, the measure has drawn intense opposition from LGBTQ advocates, students, national Democrats, the White House and the entertainment industry, amid increased attention on Florida as Republicans push culture war legislation and DeSantis ascends in the GOP as a potential 2024 presidential candidate.
The bill states: “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” Parents would be able to sue districts over violations.
Republican Rep. Joe Harding, who sponsored the measure, and other GOP lawmakers in Florida have argued that parents should be broaching these subjects with their children, rather than educators. It would not bar spontaneous discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools but instead is intended to prevent districts from integrating the subjects into official curriculum, Harding and supporters have said.
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This is a good thing.
Why would anyone want to contaminate a child’s mind with sexual perversions,
even before they know what sex is??
Let the innocence of childhood be innocent and filled with just fun.
IMO it didn’t go far enough. TO ME the entire LGBTQ+ agenda needs to be kicked the hell out of ALL KIDS Schools, from kindergarden to HIGH!
Let the children only play children games and those grown ups who want to role play children can do so in the privacy of their dwellings. No one needs to be subjected to their life style just like no one needs to be subjected to “my straight” life style.
All of these people who don’t know who or what they are sure do spend a lot of time and effort trying to tell us how to identify them.
And if as they keep whining “GEnder is a social construct”, then WHY DO THEY KEEP trying to push the balloney about there being a GENDER PAY GAP>??