The Florida state Senate passed a controversial parental rights bill Tuesday that would ban classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation from kindergarten through third grade.
The legislation, having previously passed the state House last month, now heads to the desk of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it.
The bill was passed in a 22-17 vote in the state Senate, a day after state Democrats and activists rallied at the Capitol in Tallahassee in opposition to the legislation, which they dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
FLORIDA DEMOCRATS CHANT ‘GAY, GAY, GAY’ AT RALLY AGAINST SEX ED BILL
The legislation generated substantial controversy in recent weeks as it made its way through the Florida Legislature, drawing condemnation from state and national Democrats. The bill was even mocked on Saturday Night Live.
Moments after the legislation passed Tuesday, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona blasted state legislators in a tweet, saying, “Leaders in Florida have decided that bills based on hate & discrimination take priority over our students’ pandemic recovery.”
Leaders in Florida have decided that bills based on hate & discrimination take priority over our students’ pandemic recovery. My team & I stand with our LGBTQ+ students in Florida & across the country & urge Florida leaders to protect & support all students.
— Secretary Miguel Cardona (@SecCardona) March 8, 2022
“My team & I stand with our LGBTQ+ students in Florida & across the country & urge Florida leaders to protect & support all students,” Cardona said.
But Republican politicians claim the opposition to the bill was mischaracterizing its purpose.
“Misrepresentations and smear campaigns can’t change the truth — and the truth is that we’re keeping complicated classroom instruction about sexual orientation out of the schoolhouse for kindergartners through third graders and establishing a parent’s right to know when their child is having a life-changing decision made by the school for them,” Florida Speaker Chris Sprowls said in a statement after the bill passed the state Senate.
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“We live in a day and age where some government and school officials believe they are better than parents when it comes to raising our kids,” Sprowls said. “The Florida Legislature today rejected that ridiculous notion with HB 1557’s passage, empowering parents over government bureaucrats and ensuring their right to protect and fight for their children.”
