Tag Archives: DOn’t Say Gay

Gainesville’s CBS affiliate reports: Federal prosecutors say former state Rep. Joe Harding betrayed the “public’s trust” and should be sent to prison. Harding’s employers and one of his brothers paint a picture of a hard-working family man who regrets fraudulently applying for business loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor is poised to decide Harding’s punishment …

CBS News reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the NAACP is pulling a “stunt” by calling Florida hostile to Black Americans, other minorities and LGBTQ+ people. In an interview with DeSantis, CBS asked if he would represent the entire country, and whether everyone could feel welcome in DeSantis’ America. “A hundred percent,” DeSantis responded. “And that is politics. That’s a …

Gainesville’s ABC affiliate reports: With a sentencing hearing scheduled Sept. 11, federal prosecutors said in a court filing Thursday that former state Rep. Joe Harding, R-Ocala, should be sent to prison for fraudulently applying for business loans during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Joseph Harding is a businessman and former member of the Florida House of Representatives,” the filing said. “As he …

Charlotte’s ABC affiliate reports: The North Carolina Legislature voted to successfully override six vetoes by Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday afternoon, putting the measures into law. One of those was Senate Bill 49, the Parents’ Bill of Rights. After the Senate voted to override, the House later overrode the veto of SB 49, enacting the Parents’ Bill of Rights into …

ABC News reports: Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. has instructed Florida school officials to teach College Board’s AP Psychology course “in its entirety,” according to a letter obtained by ABC News from the state Department of Education. The letter follows the College Board’s announcement that Florida officials had effectively banned the course by instructing state superintendents “that teaching foundational …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: Florida will not allow public school students to take Advanced Placement psychology because the course includes lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity, topics forbidden by the state, the College Board said Thursday. If so, that would mean that a week before school starts in many districts, about 5,000 Central Florida students and about 27,000 statewide …

Florida Politics reports: Former Rep. Joe Harding, who pleaded guilty in March to wire fraud, money laundering and making false statements about COVID-19 relief funds he received, is asking for his sentencing date to be punted to September. In a motion filed with the North District of Florida, Harding’s lawyers, Ronald Kozlowski and Peggy-Anne O’Connor, requested a continuation of his …

NPR reports: The ACLU of Indiana has filed a lawsuit to halt Indiana’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law. Court documents said the act’s lack of definitions about “human sexuality” and “instruction” mean teachers don’t know what they can and can’t teach. If found in violation of HEA 1608, teachers could have their licenses suspended or revoked. The lawsuit was filed …

The Louisiana Illuminator reports: The Louisiana Senate gave final passage to two anti-LGBTQ+ bills Monday that target young transgender and queer students. House Bill 466 by Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton, prohibits discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools. House Bill 81 by Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, would prohibit school employees from using transgender students’ preferred names …

Florida Politics reports: A poll by Civiqs found 50% of Florida voters oppose a new ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Florida universities and colleges. Additionally, 48% oppose a ban on LGBTQ books in Florida schools, an issue on which has given Florida national notoriety after books were banned in classrooms. Cedar Key Progress, a liberal political committee …

The Des Moines Register reports: Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a sweeping education law that orders the removal from schools of books that contain sex acts and restricts teaching about LGBTQ topics. Iowa Republican lawmakers combined several of their top priorities for education into the wide-ranging Senate File 496, which Reynolds signed in a private event on Friday. The law …

The Texas Tribune reports: The Texas Senate has once again advanced legislation that would severely limit classroom lessons, teacher guidance and school programming about sexual orientation and gender identity through 12th grade in Texas schools. The upper chamber voted 19-12 Monday to preliminarily approve House Bill 890 after the Senate education committee added the proposed restrictions to the legislation. This …

Austin’s CBS affiliate reports: LGBTQ advocacy groups and some members of the community are saying the Texas Senate is attempting to covertly add “don’t say gay” language to House Bill 890. During a Senate Committee on Education meeting this week, Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Texas, amended HB 890, which relates to parental rights and the responsibilities of public schools. The changes …

The Louisiana Illuminator reports: The Louisiana House passed a so-called Don’t Say Gay bill Tuesday that would prohibit teachers from discussing gender identity or sexual orientation, and it would protect only teachers and parents who hold conservative views of transgender rights. House Bill 466, sponsored by Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton, passed in a 67-28 vote. Similar to a bill the …

The Associated Press reports: Indiana’s governor on Thursday signed a bill that will require schools to notify a parent if a student requests a name or pronoun change at school, one of the final bills approved in a legislative session that had targeted LGBTQ+ people in the state, especially students. Critics worry the law could out transgender children to their …

ABC News reports: The Florida Board of Education has voted to expand restrictions on classroom instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity. This rule would build on the Parental Rights in Education law Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in March 2022. The law bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for students in kindergarten through third grade. …

Reuters reports: Florida officials are expected on Wednesday to consider largely prohibiting classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in all grades, expanding on a law signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis that barred such lessons for elementary-age students. The proposed rule, which does not require legislative approval, is part of a broader rightward push on cultural issues that …

The Tallahassee Democrat reports: The Florida House on Friday took a step toward expanding a controversial 2022 law that prevents instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in early school grades, approving a measure that would broaden the prohibition through eighth grade. The wide-ranging bill (HB 1069) also seeks to restrict the way teachers and students can use preferred pronouns …

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports: Heavy fog blanketed Kentucky’s state Capitol Wednesday morning, at points so dense it rendered the Capitol building invisible. But the fuzzy outlines of people standing in throngs outside the Capitol and gathering in clumps in the parking garage could not be erased. Hundreds of LGBTQ+ youths and their allies, young and old, protested as a last-ditch …

The Associated Press reports: Kentucky’s Democratic governor issued an election-year veto Friday of a Republican bill aimed at regulating the lives of transgender youths that includes banning access to gender-affirming health care and restricting the bathrooms they can use. The bill also bans discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools and allows teachers to refuse to refer to …