The Associated Press reports:
The Florida Senate on Tuesday passed controversial legislation that regulates lessons about sexual orientation and gender identity in public school classrooms, despite concerns from activists and student groups that argued the bill would have a chilling impact on gay, lesbian and transgender students.
The legislation, which Florida Democrats and LGBTQ activist refer to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, now advances to Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). In recent days, DeSantis has indicated he will likely sign the legislation, saying it is designed to shield Florida’s youngest students from exposure to sensitive topics in the classroom.
Read the full article.
.@dennisbaxley proving that he has ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what he is doing with this bill. “Sexual orientation to me is male and female ?♂️.”
These bills are written by outside hate groups utilizing State Senators as empty vessels with no clue about what they are aiming to do. pic.twitter.com/1Z7DrMcf7J
— Orange Democrats (@OrangeDemsFL) March 8, 2022
The “don’t say gay” bill just passed the Florida Legislature. It now goes to Ron DeSantis’ desk for his signature. A sad and shameful day for the state of Florida. pic.twitter.com/azaKujTP6Z
— Thomas Kennedy (@tomaskenn) March 8, 2022
Student voices are loud, but Florida Republicans are clear. ‘Don’t say gay’ bill passes https://t.co/KUifLspJbm
— Bradenton Herald (@bradentonherald) March 8, 2022
The Florida senate has just passed the controversial bill limiting LGBT discussion in schools
The so-called “don’t say gay” bill has chilling similarities to Section 28 legislation that was in force in the UK until 2003
— Scott Beasley (@SkyScottBeasley) March 8, 2022
Florida Republican accidentally fact-checks his own lie that the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill doesn’t single out gays https://t.co/EiMrhpFlOh
— ? Mx. Scott K. Ernest, BSPH ??️? ?️⚧️ (@scottkernest) March 8, 2022
#BREAKING: By a vote of 22-17, the bill critics have dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” but is officially named the “Parental Rights in Education Bill,” has passed in the Florida Senate. It now heads to Governor DeSantis’ desk. https://t.co/28wKllrKHA pic.twitter.com/LWxCpZhqD7
— 10 Tampa Bay (@10TampaBay) March 8, 2022
#DontSayGay passes the Florida State Senate.
It is now on its way to @GovRonDeSantis‘ desk. He has promised to sign this bill.
This is a continuation of a very dark, discriminatory session. Our next opportunity to change this is Nov 8. We have to vote bc our lives depend on it.
— Eunic Ortiz (she/her) (@eunicortiz) March 8, 2022
RELATED: Dennis Baxley last appeared on JMG in 2019 when he introduced an ultimately failed bill that would have allowed Florida teachers to instruct against “controversial” ideas like evolution and climate change. That bill was written by the anti-LGBTQ hate group, the Florida Citizens Alliance. But that wasn’t the first time an extremist group funneled a bill through Baxley. In 2005 he introduced the NRA-written “Stand Your Ground” bill that was successfully used in the murder of Trayvon Martin and just last month in the killing of a movie patron who threw popcorn at a retired cop.