Florida Approves LGBTQ+ Education Bill

🏛️ Florida's Senate voted 22-17 yesterday in favor of a controversial bill that would restrict teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools. The vote fell strictly along party lines (R in support, D against). The measure now heads to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has signaled he will sign it into law. 

• The legislation, referred to by some as "Don't Say Gay," is aimed at asserting more parental control over children’s education and banning inappropriate content from classrooms, according to the bill’s supporters.
• It mostly codifies parents’ rights to information about their childrens’ lesson plans and health records, along with requiring schools to give updates on changes in students’ mental, emotional and physical health.
• The part that has drawn the most contention is a section that reads: “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.”
• The bill would give parents the right to sue teachers whom they believe to be in violation of its provisions.
• Opponents argue that “age appropriate or developmentally appropriate” isn't clearly defined, so the bill’s result would be to stifle all classroom discussion about LGBTQ+ issues from K-12, since teachers won’t want to take the risk of getting sued.

👀 Looking ahead... If Gov. DeSantis signs it into law, the legislation would go into effect on July 1.

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