(Screenshot from Facebook)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed four bills at a Christian private school in Tampa May 17 marking the largest slate of anti-LGBTQ+ bills to be signed in a single legislative session in Florida history.
House Bill 1069, also known as the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” expansion; Senate Bill 254, the gender-affirming care ban; House Bill 1521, banning trans individuals from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity in schools, prisons, detention centers and government buildings; and House Bill 1423, what has been called the anti-drag bill were all signed by DeSantis.
“It is important that we stand up for our youth and we’re doing that in a number of ways here today,” DeSantis said behind a podium that read “Let Kids Be Kids.” in front of a crowd of supporters.
Joe Saunders, senior political director of Equality Florida, in a statement called today’s bill signings an “all out attack on freedom.”
“Free states don’t strip parents of the right to make healthcare decisions for their children. Free states don’t ban books, censor curriculum, or muzzle free speech,” Saunders said. “DeSantis doesn’t see freedom as a value worth defending, he sees it as a campaign slogan in his bid for the White House. And he is setting freedom — and Florida’s reputation — ablaze in his desperation to win the GOP nomination. The nation should be on high alert. We are all Floridians as DeSantis seeks to export this blueprint of authoritarianism to the rest of the country.”
Florida Rep. Ann V. Eskamani released a statement following DeSantis’ event, saying that diversity is a strength in The Sunshine State and not a weakness or something to demonize and be afraid of.”
“Republicans like Governor Ron DeSantis are pushing an extreme agenda that is fueled by disinformation, isolating already marginalized people,” Eskamani said. “The notion of ‘let kids be kids’ is one we all agree with, and should also apply to LGBTQ+ kids who these bills target and erase. All four of these bills fit into the category of culture wars, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have real life consequences.
“Right now trans people are trying to find access to care, while many have decided to leave the state all together,” she continued. “Kids don’t feel safe being themselves, and we already see the continuation of diverse books being removed from school libraries. This is not the Florida I know, or a Florida that welcomes all people. We can do better, and must do better. I will keep fighting for a Florida that cares about all people, a Florida that respects personal medical decisions and embraces every family.”
HB 1069 and HB 1521 both go into affect July 1. SB 254 and HB 1423 became law upon DeSantis signing them.
Equality Florida has scheduled a virtual press conference for 11:30 a.m. to discuss DeSantis’ “Slate of Hate” bills signing. Equality Florida’s executive director Nadine Smith and public policy director Jon Harris Maurer will join Saunders on the call along with Former Florida Rep. and current Florida Senate candidate Carlos Guillermo Smith, Florida Freedom to Read Project co-founder Jen Cousins, PFLAG South Miami President Jennifer Solomon, President of the Florida LGBTQ Democratic Caucus Nathan Bruemmer and drag entertainer Angelique Young.
You can register to join Equality Florida’s Zoom call by going here.
You can watch DeSantis sign the bills below.
