BREAKING: Florida House Passes “Don’t Say Gay” Bill

The Orlando Sentinel reports:

The Florida House signed off on a culture war measure Thursday backed by Gov. DeSantis that seek to limit discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity in schools.

State legislators passed legislation dubbed by opponents the “don’t say gay” bill. Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said he wore a rainbow ribbon upside down because Florida’s LGBTQ community is in distress.

Democratic opponents painted the “anti-woke” proposal as a politically motivated effort to penalize teachers who tell the truth about America’s racist past. They called the “don’t say gay” bill transphobic and homophobic.

Read the full article. Yesterday the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Joe Harding [photo], appeared on the podcast of hate group leader Tony Perkins.

The “Don’t Say Gay” bill passed the Florida House by a vote of 69-47. Seven Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the measure.

— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) February 24, 2022

Florida is on an anti-LGBTQ+ roll today.

The “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bill is reprehensible and a blatant attempt to erase LGBTQ+ people from society. The Florida Senate must vote against this legislation for what it is — an attack on our community. https://t.co/UPCckwilHB

— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) February 24, 2022

I’m in the Florida House of Representatives today for the vote on Don’t Say Gay — carrying the 49 victims of Pulse with me. No matter how a vote goes, we will not be erased.

Stay updated here: https://t.co/eQKSoL9qUG pic.twitter.com/pogkrfEKyE

— Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) February 24, 2022