Florida protests ramp up after lawmakers pass expansion of 'Don’t Say Gay' bill

31 March 2023

Protestors flooded Florida capitol grounds Friday after GOP lawmakers passed an extension of the Parental Rights in Education Act, also known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, HuffPost reports.

Earlier this month, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed an expansion of the legislation, which prohibits "classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades."

Per HuffPost, more than 100 LGBTQ+ students and allies participated in the march, and "many flooded into the halls outside the House chamber, with others protesting around the building and in areas near the Capitol grounds."

According to NPR, the original legislation proposed by DeSantis said, "Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards."

HuffPost reports:

The new bill, HB 1069, would place further limits on discussions of sex education, sexual orientation and gender identity in K-12 public schools, and would have them teach that 'sex is determined by biology and reproductive function at birth.' It would also restrict the way that teachers in these schools can use students’ preferred pronouns.

Nonprofit advocacy organization, Equality Florida, shared video of Democratic State Rep. Fentrice Driskell speaking on the House floor, writing, "Leader @FentriceForFL : 'When you ostracize these kids, when you shame them, you are causing real and serious harm.'"

In another tweet, the group wrote, "Students are nearing Capitol grounds," and shared a video of protestors chanting, "This is what democracy looks like."

Watch the video below or at this link.

HuffPost's full report is available at this link. NPR's report is here.

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