The White House decried Florida’s parental rights bill on Monday, saying it will do nothing to address the “real issues” students face.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law last week, banning the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked at what age she thinks those concepts should be taught.
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“We have spoken to the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill in the past,” she said, using a nickname DeSantis says is inaccurate. “As we look at this law, we think it’s a reflection of politicians in Florida propagating misinformed, hateful policies that do absolutely nothing to address the real issues.”
The Department of Education will look at the law to see if its implementation violates federal civil rights law, Psaki added.
“I would note that parents across the country are looking to national, state, and district leaders to support our nation’s students, to ensure that kids are treated equally in schools,” she said.
DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education Act at a signing ceremony and press conference.
“In Florida, we not only know that parents have a right to be involved, we insist that parents have a right to be involved,” DeSantis said at the press conference.
The word “gay” does not appear in the legislation’s text, and it only restricts classroom instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity up to third grade.
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During Monday’s press briefing, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy tried again to ask if the White House supports the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. Psaki countered by challenging him to produce examples of the concepts being taught to Florida kindergartners.
“I think that’s a relevant question,” Psaki said. “This is a politically charged, harsh law that is putting parents and LGBTQ+ kids in a very difficult, heartbreaking circumstance. And so, I actually think that’s a pretty relevant question.”
