Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed off on a controversial piece of legislation called the Parental Rights in Education bill, known to critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The Parental Rights in Education bill has received great backlash since its signing. DeSantis' political opponents, celebrities, and even employees of Florida’s Disney World have all taken to social media to protest the bill.
The Parental Rights in Education Bill prohibits the discussion of sexual orientation, sex, and gender identity in grades kindergarten through third grade in Florida. Many Florida families and LGBT advocacy groups have sued DeSantis, believing the bill to be homophobic and transphobic.
Despite the controversy, there appears to be a misunderstanding of the bill's intent, officially, the Parental Rights in Education bill only prohibits discussion of any sex or gender identity in the classroom and does not oppose the existence of homosexuality. Even the term "gay" is not in the bill.
Other components of the bill force teachers to be transparent about what they teach and enforce strict penalties when they fail to inform parents about anything in their curriculum. Lately, education has been a hot issue in the United States, seeing teachers' unions often butting heads with concerned parents in several states.
Virginia saw a similar issue in its 2021 Gubernatorial race. Incumbent Ralph Northam was term-limited and a Northam-backed challenger, Terry McAuliffe was favored to win the election but lost his chances against Glenn Youngkin. Youngkin sided with the parents in the education debate over banning critical race theory in Virginia. Youngkin's position against critical race theory contributed to his victory over McAuliffe in the 2021 Virginia Gubernatorial Election.
Many politicians have voiced their concerns over the bill, such as Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, who said, “I think the bill was kind of absurd and not something that would have happened in our state,” and New York City Mayor Eric Adams who said, “This political showmanship of attempting to demonize a particular group or community is unacceptable, and we are going to loudly show our support and say to those living in Florida, Listen, we want you here in New York.” DeSantis has also received praise for this decision, as Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick wants Texas to adopt a similar law, saying, “I will make this law a top priority in the next session.”
Despite the political pressure, DeSantis has sided with the parents of Florida, advocating for school choice and criticizing the teaching of critical race theory and the discussion of sex and gender identity in the classroom. Despite the backlash he has received, DeSantis remains popular in Florida. DeSantis holds a high approval rating and is currently favored to win reelection.