Children in St. Petersburg, Florida protest H.B. 1557, the so-called "Don't Say Gay or Trans" bill, on March 3, 2022. (Photo: Eric Lynn/Twitter)
Mar 08, 2022
Human rights advocates on Tuesday denounced Republican state senators in Florida for passing a so-called "Don't Say Gay or Trans" bill, while imploring GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis to "do the right thing" and veto what they called the homophobic and transphobic legislation.
"This act of government censorship is ruthless and is designed to erase the existence of all LGBTQ+ stories and people from our Florida schools."
"Today, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Tallahassee Republicans sacrificed the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ students in order to appeal to the most radical parts of their base," Sen. Annette Taddeo (D-40) said in a statement after the Florida Senate voted 22-17 in favor of H.B. 1557. Two Senate Republicans--Jeff Brandes (24) and Jennifer Bradley (5)--joined all Democrats in voting against the measure.
The bill bans public school teachers from "instruction" about sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade--even though such subjects are not taught in those grades--or at any level that is not "age-appropriate," an undefined term. The bill also empowers parents to sue schools that fail to comply with its opaque terms.
"H.B 1557 will directly harm already vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth and put their lives at risk," ACLU of Florida legislative director and senior policy counsel Kara Gross said in a statement. "Florida politicians should be ashamed of its passage. This bill is a disgrace."
Despite statewide protests by students and supporters--including classroom walkouts last week and a rally at the state Capitol on Monday--DeSantis, who is widely believed to have 2024 presidential ambitions, has suggested he will sign the bill into law. Last week, Christina Pushaw, the governor's press secretary, suggested in a tweet that opponents of the measure are pedophiles or support pedophilia.
\u201cWe're sorry to break it to the hateful politicians who voted in favor of the "Don't Say Gay" bill, but LGBTQ+ people exist in Florida today, and they will continue to exist in Florida tomorrow. \n\nAnd they're fighting back.\nhttps://t.co/LP1L6ipRzs\u201d— Working Families Party \ud83d\udc3a (@Working Families Party \ud83d\udc3a) 1646769138
Taddeo's statement said that the bill "directly targets the LGBTQ+ community," while her office noted that "extensive research shows that LGBTQ+ youth are more at risk for bullying and are more likely to suffer added stress and anxiety surrounding their identity. This is a community that needs more support--not more stigmatization."
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Sen. Dennis Baxley (R-12), one of the bill's sponsors, said the "trendy posture" of some LGBTQ+ children worried him.
"Why is everybody now all about coming out when you're at school?" Baxley said on the Senate floor before the vote. "How much of this are [sic] genuine type of experiences and how many of them are just kids trying on different kinds of things they hear about and different kinds of identities and experimenting?"
\u201cBREAKING: The Florida Senate has passed the "Don't Say Gay" bill by a vote of 22-17. Only TWO Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the measure. Only two.\n\nThis bill is an attack on LGBTQ+ kids and their families. We stand with our LGBTQ+ gente in Florida. You deserve better.\u201d— Voto Latino (@Voto Latino) 1646760809
Gross said: "Make no mistake; this anti-LGBTQ+ bill affects all Florida students and teachers. With this bill, politicians have essentially silenced teachers and students from speaking and learning about LGBTQ+ siblings, family members, friends, neighbors, and icons."
"This act of government censorship is ruthless and is designed to erase the existence of all LGBTQ+ stories and people from our Florida schools," she continued. "The government should never be in the business of passing censorship bills. All of our kids should feel loved, accepted, and supported. This bill does the opposite. Banning the free speech of teachers and students is harmful and dangerous. Targeting LGBTQ+ kids and family members is discriminatory and cruel."
Cathryn M. Oakley, state legislative director and senior counsel at the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement that "the Florida state Legislature is playing a dangerous political game with the health and safety of LGBTQ+ kids. The existence of LGBTQ+ people across Florida is not up for debate. We are proud parents, students, and teachers, and LGBTQ+ people deserve to exist boldly, just like everyone else."
\u201cThe Florida Senate just passed the \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay or Trans\u201d bill. It's a cruel attempt to erase LGBTQ+ people and history from classrooms and will further isolate LGBTQ+ kids.\n \n@GovRonDeSantis needs to do the right thing and veto this legislation.\nhttps://t.co/wfui6h1nr3\u201d— Human Rights Campaign (@Human Rights Campaign) 1646759318
"Discriminatory pieces of legislation like the 'Don't Say Gay or Trans' bill don't solve any critical issues in Florida. Instead, these bills shamefully attack and endanger LGBTQ+ students who are just trying to get a quality education, whom the state has an obligation to treat fairly and protect," Oakley added.
Advocates stressed that DeSantis hasn't signed the bill into law yet, while urging him to wield his veto pen.
"It's not over yet," tweeted MoveOn. "DeSantis can and must veto this bill to avoid causing further harm."
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Human rights advocates on Tuesday denounced Republican state senators in Florida for passing a so-called "Don't Say Gay or Trans" bill, while imploring GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis to "do the right thing" and veto what they called the homophobic and transphobic legislation.
"This act of government censorship is ruthless and is designed to erase the existence of all LGBTQ+ stories and people from our Florida schools."
"Today, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Tallahassee Republicans sacrificed the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ students in order to appeal to the most radical parts of their base," Sen. Annette Taddeo (D-40) said in a statement after the Florida Senate voted 22-17 in favor of H.B. 1557. Two Senate Republicans--Jeff Brandes (24) and Jennifer Bradley (5)--joined all Democrats in voting against the measure.
The bill bans public school teachers from "instruction" about sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade--even though such subjects are not taught in those grades--or at any level that is not "age-appropriate," an undefined term. The bill also empowers parents to sue schools that fail to comply with its opaque terms.
"H.B 1557 will directly harm already vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth and put their lives at risk," ACLU of Florida legislative director and senior policy counsel Kara Gross said in a statement. "Florida politicians should be ashamed of its passage. This bill is a disgrace."
Despite statewide protests by students and supporters--including classroom walkouts last week and a rally at the state Capitol on Monday--DeSantis, who is widely believed to have 2024 presidential ambitions, has suggested he will sign the bill into law. Last week, Christina Pushaw, the governor's press secretary, suggested in a tweet that opponents of the measure are pedophiles or support pedophilia.
\u201cWe're sorry to break it to the hateful politicians who voted in favor of the "Don't Say Gay" bill, but LGBTQ+ people exist in Florida today, and they will continue to exist in Florida tomorrow. \n\nAnd they're fighting back.\nhttps://t.co/LP1L6ipRzs\u201d— Working Families Party \ud83d\udc3a (@Working Families Party \ud83d\udc3a) 1646769138
Taddeo's statement said that the bill "directly targets the LGBTQ+ community," while her office noted that "extensive research shows that LGBTQ+ youth are more at risk for bullying and are more likely to suffer added stress and anxiety surrounding their identity. This is a community that needs more support--not more stigmatization."
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Sen. Dennis Baxley (R-12), one of the bill's sponsors, said the "trendy posture" of some LGBTQ+ children worried him.
"Why is everybody now all about coming out when you're at school?" Baxley said on the Senate floor before the vote. "How much of this are [sic] genuine type of experiences and how many of them are just kids trying on different kinds of things they hear about and different kinds of identities and experimenting?"
\u201cBREAKING: The Florida Senate has passed the "Don't Say Gay" bill by a vote of 22-17. Only TWO Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the measure. Only two.\n\nThis bill is an attack on LGBTQ+ kids and their families. We stand with our LGBTQ+ gente in Florida. You deserve better.\u201d— Voto Latino (@Voto Latino) 1646760809
Gross said: "Make no mistake; this anti-LGBTQ+ bill affects all Florida students and teachers. With this bill, politicians have essentially silenced teachers and students from speaking and learning about LGBTQ+ siblings, family members, friends, neighbors, and icons."
"This act of government censorship is ruthless and is designed to erase the existence of all LGBTQ+ stories and people from our Florida schools," she continued. "The government should never be in the business of passing censorship bills. All of our kids should feel loved, accepted, and supported. This bill does the opposite. Banning the free speech of teachers and students is harmful and dangerous. Targeting LGBTQ+ kids and family members is discriminatory and cruel."
Cathryn M. Oakley, state legislative director and senior counsel at the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement that "the Florida state Legislature is playing a dangerous political game with the health and safety of LGBTQ+ kids. The existence of LGBTQ+ people across Florida is not up for debate. We are proud parents, students, and teachers, and LGBTQ+ people deserve to exist boldly, just like everyone else."
\u201cThe Florida Senate just passed the \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay or Trans\u201d bill. It's a cruel attempt to erase LGBTQ+ people and history from classrooms and will further isolate LGBTQ+ kids.\n \n@GovRonDeSantis needs to do the right thing and veto this legislation.\nhttps://t.co/wfui6h1nr3\u201d— Human Rights Campaign (@Human Rights Campaign) 1646759318
"Discriminatory pieces of legislation like the 'Don't Say Gay or Trans' bill don't solve any critical issues in Florida. Instead, these bills shamefully attack and endanger LGBTQ+ students who are just trying to get a quality education, whom the state has an obligation to treat fairly and protect," Oakley added.
Advocates stressed that DeSantis hasn't signed the bill into law yet, while urging him to wield his veto pen.
"It's not over yet," tweeted MoveOn. "DeSantis can and must veto this bill to avoid causing further harm."
Human rights advocates on Tuesday denounced Republican state senators in Florida for passing a so-called "Don't Say Gay or Trans" bill, while imploring GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis to "do the right thing" and veto what they called the homophobic and transphobic legislation.
"This act of government censorship is ruthless and is designed to erase the existence of all LGBTQ+ stories and people from our Florida schools."
"Today, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Tallahassee Republicans sacrificed the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ students in order to appeal to the most radical parts of their base," Sen. Annette Taddeo (D-40) said in a statement after the Florida Senate voted 22-17 in favor of H.B. 1557. Two Senate Republicans--Jeff Brandes (24) and Jennifer Bradley (5)--joined all Democrats in voting against the measure.
The bill bans public school teachers from "instruction" about sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade--even though such subjects are not taught in those grades--or at any level that is not "age-appropriate," an undefined term. The bill also empowers parents to sue schools that fail to comply with its opaque terms.
"H.B 1557 will directly harm already vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth and put their lives at risk," ACLU of Florida legislative director and senior policy counsel Kara Gross said in a statement. "Florida politicians should be ashamed of its passage. This bill is a disgrace."
Despite statewide protests by students and supporters--including classroom walkouts last week and a rally at the state Capitol on Monday--DeSantis, who is widely believed to have 2024 presidential ambitions, has suggested he will sign the bill into law. Last week, Christina Pushaw, the governor's press secretary, suggested in a tweet that opponents of the measure are pedophiles or support pedophilia.
\u201cWe're sorry to break it to the hateful politicians who voted in favor of the "Don't Say Gay" bill, but LGBTQ+ people exist in Florida today, and they will continue to exist in Florida tomorrow. \n\nAnd they're fighting back.\nhttps://t.co/LP1L6ipRzs\u201d— Working Families Party \ud83d\udc3a (@Working Families Party \ud83d\udc3a) 1646769138
Taddeo's statement said that the bill "directly targets the LGBTQ+ community," while her office noted that "extensive research shows that LGBTQ+ youth are more at risk for bullying and are more likely to suffer added stress and anxiety surrounding their identity. This is a community that needs more support--not more stigmatization."
According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Sen. Dennis Baxley (R-12), one of the bill's sponsors, said the "trendy posture" of some LGBTQ+ children worried him.
"Why is everybody now all about coming out when you're at school?" Baxley said on the Senate floor before the vote. "How much of this are [sic] genuine type of experiences and how many of them are just kids trying on different kinds of things they hear about and different kinds of identities and experimenting?"
\u201cBREAKING: The Florida Senate has passed the "Don't Say Gay" bill by a vote of 22-17. Only TWO Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the measure. Only two.\n\nThis bill is an attack on LGBTQ+ kids and their families. We stand with our LGBTQ+ gente in Florida. You deserve better.\u201d— Voto Latino (@Voto Latino) 1646760809
Gross said: "Make no mistake; this anti-LGBTQ+ bill affects all Florida students and teachers. With this bill, politicians have essentially silenced teachers and students from speaking and learning about LGBTQ+ siblings, family members, friends, neighbors, and icons."
"This act of government censorship is ruthless and is designed to erase the existence of all LGBTQ+ stories and people from our Florida schools," she continued. "The government should never be in the business of passing censorship bills. All of our kids should feel loved, accepted, and supported. This bill does the opposite. Banning the free speech of teachers and students is harmful and dangerous. Targeting LGBTQ+ kids and family members is discriminatory and cruel."
Cathryn M. Oakley, state legislative director and senior counsel at the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement that "the Florida state Legislature is playing a dangerous political game with the health and safety of LGBTQ+ kids. The existence of LGBTQ+ people across Florida is not up for debate. We are proud parents, students, and teachers, and LGBTQ+ people deserve to exist boldly, just like everyone else."
\u201cThe Florida Senate just passed the \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay or Trans\u201d bill. It's a cruel attempt to erase LGBTQ+ people and history from classrooms and will further isolate LGBTQ+ kids.\n \n@GovRonDeSantis needs to do the right thing and veto this legislation.\nhttps://t.co/wfui6h1nr3\u201d— Human Rights Campaign (@Human Rights Campaign) 1646759318
"Discriminatory pieces of legislation like the 'Don't Say Gay or Trans' bill don't solve any critical issues in Florida. Instead, these bills shamefully attack and endanger LGBTQ+ students who are just trying to get a quality education, whom the state has an obligation to treat fairly and protect," Oakley added.
Advocates stressed that DeSantis hasn't signed the bill into law yet, while urging him to wield his veto pen.
"It's not over yet," tweeted MoveOn. "DeSantis can and must veto this bill to avoid causing further harm."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.