A controversial Florida bill dubbed “Don’t Say I’m Gay” by critics is upheld under a settlement reached in federal court on Monday that would allow students and teachers to Be able to freely discuss orientation and gender identity. order.
The settlement aims to clarify exactly what is and is not allowed in Florida classrooms. The Florida Board of Education says Florida law does not prohibit discussing LGBTQ+ people, prevent anti-bullying rules based on sexual orientation or gender identity, or ban gay-straight alliance groups. The plan is to send instructions to each school district stating that they are not allowed to do so.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at a campaign event at Jethros Barbecue on January 11, 2024 in Ames, Iowa. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
The settlement also makes clear that the law is neutral, meaning it applies equally to LGBTQ+ people and straight people, with the exception of library books not used for classroom instruction. There is.
The law also does not apply to books that include LGBTQ+ characters or incidental references to same-sex couples.
Roberta Kaplan, lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said the settlement “understands the basics we hope all Americans agree on: that every child in this country deserves a secure public school education.” It re-establishes principles.” Their dignity is respected and their families and parents are welcomed. ”
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ office called the agreement “a major victory for activists who have tried to thwart Florida’s efforts to keep racial, gender, and sexual ideologies out of the classroom.”
“We fought hard to ensure that this law was not vilified in the courts just as it was vilified in public by the media and big corporations,” said Florida attorney Ryan Newman. Told. “We won, and Florida classrooms will continue to be safe spaces under the Parental Rights in Education Act.”
Mr. DeSantis, who abandoned his bid for the White House in January, has championed the law even before it was passed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature in 2022. It bans instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for kindergarten through third grade students, and was expanded to all grades last year.
Florida State Capitol Building in Tallahassee, Florida. (Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images)
Republican lawmakers had argued that parents should talk to their children about these topics and that the law protects children from being taught inappropriate material in school.
Opponents, meanwhile, argued that the law would have a chilling effect on classrooms and, in some cases, remove books that cover LGBTQ+ topics.
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Civil rights lawyers sued Florida education officials on behalf of teachers, students and parents, arguing the law was unconstitutional, but a federal judge in Tallahassee last year ruled they had no standing to sue. The lawsuit was dismissed. The case was appealed to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
