Florida State Capitol. (Photo by DXR, from Wikimedia Commons)
As Florida lawmakers prepare to end its 60-day legislative session on May 5, state Republicans are pushing through several anti-LGBTQ+ bills in a year that has been dominated by its attacks on queer youth.
The Florida Senate passed House Bill 1069 May 3 by a vote of 27-12. HB 1069 expands the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” law by extending the complete ban on “classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity” through 8th grade. The vote comes less than a month after the Florida Board of Education approved the expansion of the law to all grades through 12th.
“The Don’t Say LGBTQ law has already caused sweeping damage across our state,” said Jon Harris Maurer, Equality Florida Public Policy Director, in a press release. “It was wrong when it was adopted, and expanding it is wrong now. Books are being removed en masse. Rainbows are being censored from classrooms. Districts are refusing to recognize the historical contributions of LGBTQ people for fear of the Governor’s wrath. This expansion exacerbates the damaging impacts being felt by students and families in Florida. Parents should have the right to ensure their children are respected in the classroom. Our schools should be celebrating the diverse families that make up our communities, not erasing them. Shame on Governor DeSantis and lawmakers perpetuating a political crusade against LGBTQ Floridians.”
As the Florida Senate worked on passing the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” expansion, the Florida House was voting on HB 1521, which would force Floridians to use bathrooms in schools, prisons, detention centers and government buildings based on sex assigned at birth. The bill passed May 3 by a vote of 80-36.
“This bill criminalizes transgender people for using the restroom that aligns with how they live their lives every day,” said Harris Maurer. “This bill opens the door to abuse, mistreatment, and dehumanization. Our state government should be focused on solving pressing issues, not terrorizing people who are simply trying to use the restroom and exist in public.”
Both bills now head to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ desk, which he is expected to sign into law. If signed, both laws would go into effect July 1.
