Tag Archives: DOn’t Say Gay

The Associated Press reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is moving to forbid classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, expanding the controversial law critics call “Don’t Say Gay” as the Republican governor continues a focus on cultural issues ahead of his expected presidential run. The proposal, which would not require legislative approval, is scheduled for …

The Associated Press reports: The former Florida lawmaker who sponsored the controversial law critics call “Don’t Say Gay” pleaded guilty late Tuesday to committing $150,000 in COVID-19 relief fraud. Joseph Harding, a 35-year-old Republican, pleaded guilty in Gainesville federal court to wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud, according to court records. He …

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports: HB 470 would forbid Kentucky schools from discussing sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression – a key component of “Don’t Say Gay” bills popping up across the country. Schools also would not be allowed to offer instruction on human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases before sixth grade. Senate Bill 150, the sole “parents’ rights”-style bill …

The right wing Florida’s Voice reports: WPLG 10 reporter Trent Kelly was ignored by some officials of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration after he approached them following a press conference using a false term for the Parental Rights in Education Act. The video depicted Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez and Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr., leaving a room and being followed …

Florida News Service reports: The Republican-controlled House Choice & Innovation Subcommittee voted 14-4 along almost-straight party lines to approve the proposal (HB 1223), after numerous LGBTQ advocates slammed the bill as harmful to vulnerable youths. Rep. Lisa Dunkley, D-Sunrise, voted with Republicans for the measure. The 2022 law, which drew national attention and federal court challenges, prohibited instruction about sexual …

The Ocala Gazette reports: A change of plea hearing has been set in the case of former State Rep. Joe Harding, who faces several federal charges related to allegations that he defrauded a pandemic-related government small business loan program. The hearing has been set for 4 p.m. March 21 at the U.S. Courthouse in Gainesville. Harding, an Ocala Republican who …

Little Rock’s CBS affiliate reports: On Wednesday, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders officially signed the Arkansas LEARNS Act into law. The governor, who considers this bill to be “the boldest, most far-reaching, most conservative education reforms in the country,” wasted no time signing the bill after its advancement from the Senate just yesterday. The Republican-held Senate voted 26-8 to send to …

The Huffington Post reports: Rep. Phil Christofanelli, a gay Republican, challenged Rep. Ann Kelley on the House floor last week over the logic of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill she sponsored, wondering if it would also prohibit teaching about heterosexuality, which is a sexual orientation. “You mentioned George Washington. Who is Martha Washington?” Christofanelli asked. “His wife,” Kelley answered. “Under …

NBC News reports: Missouri lawmakers argued over a bill that would ban most LGBTQ education subjects for all grades in the state’s public schools. The Missouri bill debated in a state House committee hearing would ban K-12 public school staff from teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation. “Exposure to such topics is inappropriate for children, creating confusion which may …

The Georgia Recorder reports: A watered-down version of a bill opponents called Georgia’s version of “Don’t Say Gay” legislation appears dead in the water after failing in a crucial Senate committee Wednesday. The first version of the bill would have restricted schools, camp counselors and other authority figures from answering children’s questions about gender identity or sexual orientation. The latest …

Tampa’s ABC affiliate reports: Florida lawmakers introduced legislation to prohibit someone describing themselves or others with pronouns besides the ones they were born with, at least in the context of the Florida education system. It also expands bans on sexual orientation and gender identity topics in schools from kindergarten to third grade, as set up by Florida’s “Parental Rights in …

The Salt Lake Tribune reports: A Utah lawmaker is running a bill that would prohibit any discussion of sexuality, sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade classrooms — legislation that directly copies language from a Florida law that was widely panned and referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” measure by opponents. LGBTQ groups in Utah have …

“There was all this talk about the Florida bill — the ‘don’t say gay bill.’ Basically what it said was you shouldn’t be able to talk about gender before third grade. I’m sorry. I don’t think that goes far enough. When I was in school you didn’t have sex ed until 7th grade. And even then, your parents had to …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: For the second time in less than five months, a federal judge has rejected a lawsuit seeking to block a Florida law that restricts classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor on Wednesday issued a 21-page decision dismissing a revised lawsuit filed by students, parents and teachers, who argued the …

The Insider reports: A new bill being considered in Missouri would restricts how schools can talk to students about LGBTQ issues and would go further than Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law. The bill, sponsored by Republican State Sen. Mike Moon, would prohibit any school nurse, counselor, teacher, principal, or other member of staff at a public or charter school …

Charlotte’s NPR affiliate reports: A bill advancing in North Carolina’s Senate would prohibit instruction about sexuality and gender identity in K-4 public school classes, defying the recommendations of parents, educators and LGBTQ youths who testified against it. Sponsors of the bill, approved Wednesday by the Senate education committee, say they want to grant parents greater authority over their children’s education …

The Orlando Weekly reports: A federal judge has sentenced the CEO of Airsign Airship Group to more than five years in prison for defrauding the government over $7.8 million meant to help average Americans during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He is the brother-in-law of a former Florida lawmaker who resigned after he was accused of federal fraud, too. …

The New York Daily News reports: New research on LGBTQ parents in Florida found that a majority of those surveyed considered leaving the state over its controversial law restricting classroom instruction on LGBTQ issues before the fourth grade. Nearly six out of 10 parents surveyed by the Williams Institute said that the enacting of the legislation commonly known as “Don’t …

Chalkbeat Indiana reports: House Bill 1608, introduced by Rep. Michelle Davis, would prohibit all Indiana schools and their third-party vendors from providing any instruction in kindergarten through third grades with the intent to “study, explore, or inform” students about six topics: gender fluidity, gender roles, gender stereotypes, gender identity, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Another bill, filed in the Senate …

“Hey everyone, George Santos here, congressional candidate in New York’s 3rd Congressional District. Let’s talk real quick about the Florida bill, Don’t Say Gay. “Although the bill doesn’t mention those words, that’s what the left-leaning Democrats and progressives are labeling it. “I’ll leave you with this – as a gay man I stand proudly behind not teaching our children sex …