Don’t Say Gay created a “hostile environment” for LGBTQ+ youth. Ron DeSantis wants to expand it.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
Photo: Gage Skidmore – Wikimedia Commons

The administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is moving to expand the state’s Don’t Say Gay law to apply to all grades.

The law currently bans discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity through third grade. A new proposed rule would expand it through 12th grade.

The proposed rule change states that for grades four through 12, there are exceptions for instruction that “is either expressly required by state academic standards” or “is part of a reproductive health course or health lesson for which a student’s parent has the option to have his or her student not attend.”

Moreover, DeSantis does not even need the legislature to vote on this expansion. Instead, it’s up to a vote from the Board of Education, whose members have been appointed by none other than DeSantis. The vote is scheduled for next month.

The Don’t Say Gay law has caused national outrage since it was first proposed by state Rep. Joseph Harding (R) – who recently pled guilty to multiple charges related to COVID-19 relief fraud and faces up to 35 years in prison.

Since its passage, schools have been forced to…

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