Tag Archives: DOn’t Say Gay

The Florida Phoenix reports: The Florida chapter of Moms for Liberty, the conservative nonprofit that advocates for parental rights in schools, would like state lawmakers to expand the state law that restricts classroom instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation for children from kindergarten through the third grade. “We are advocating to increase that as far as ages and grades …

The Texas Tribune reports: Two bills that would ban classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in Texas public schools before certain grade levels are poised to receive top Republican backing in this year’s legislative session. But critics warn that the legislation could further marginalize LGBTQ students and families while exposing teachers to potential legal threats. The two bills …

The Associated Press reports: Incoming Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Thursday named a top Florida schools official as her pick to lead the state’s education agency, the latest signal of the direction of the Republican’s nascent administration. Sanders tapped Jacob Oliva, a senior chancellor at the Florida Department of Education, to serve as secretary of the Arkansas Department of …

Washington DC’s CBS affiliate reports: D.C.’s Attorney General is taking the lead in a fight against Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law. Karl Racine is leading a pack of 18 attorneys general who has filed a federal brief saying the law is unconstitutional. They also contend that the Florida Act is causing, by example, significant harm to students, parents and …

Tampa’s NBC affiliate reports: In January a blimp company executive in Florida, Patrick Walsh, will be sentenced after pleading guilty to wire fraud, also from charges related to pandemic aid fraud. Walsh, of Williston, was accused of fraudulently obtaining millions in pandemic assistance, in August 2022. Walsh is now-former Florida state Rep. Joe Harding’s brother-in-law. In court documents, prosecutors said …

Gainesville’s ABC affiliate reports: Former state Rep. Joe Harding, a Republican from Ocala, could go on trial in May to face charges of wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements. Harding’s attorney, Peggy-Anne O’Connor, filed a motion Monday in federal court in Gainesville to move the trial to May. It had initially been scheduled for Jan. 11. The motion …

Florida Politics reports: A Special Election still hasn’t been called to replace state Rep. Joe Harding. But two candidates have already tossed their hat in the ring to replace him. Conservative author Ryan Chamberlin, an Ocala Republican, is launching a campaign in House District 24. He just co-authored “Think Big,” his fifth book. He also launched the True Patriot Network, …

The Miami Herald reports: Florida’s State Board of Education will meet next week to scrutinize whether 10 school districts — including Miami-Dade, Broward and Hillsborough counties — are carrying out the state’s parental rights law. The state put the districts on notice last month when it sent letters detailing the policies that each of their districts “may not comport with …

Gainesville’s PBS affiliate reports: The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Wednesday that Harding is accused of making fraudulent applications to the disaster-loan program. The release said Harding “made false representations in supporting loan documentation, in the names of dormant business entities, submitted to the SBA.” Harding was indicted by a grand jury on two counts each of wire fraud, money laundering …

From Florida state Rep. Joe Harding’s Facebook page: When I decided to run in in 2019 for the Florida House, I did so for two simple reasons: I love people, and I love Florida. Today, I am resigning from my position for the same two reasons: I love people, and I love Florida. I believe in Floridians and want what …

The Florida Phoenix reports: Florida Speaker of the House Paul Renner released a statement saying that he will remove Harding from all his committee assignments. “After consultation with Rep. Harding regarding his indictment, I am temporarily removing him from his committee assignments to allow him time to focus on this matter,” Renner said. “In America, we adhere to the rule …

Posted to Florida Rep. Joe Harding’s Facebook page: Today, I pleaded not guilty to federal charges that state I improperly obtained and used an EIDL loan issued by the Small Business Administration. I want the public and my constituents to know that I fully repaid the loan and cooperated with investigators as requested. On advice from counsel, I will be …

Florida Politics reports: A federal grand jury has indicted Republican Rep. Joe Harding of House District 24 on six felony counts, including money laundering and wire fraud, the DOJ announced Wednesday. The indictment alleges that between Dec. 1, 2020 and March 1, 2021, Harding committed two acts of wire fraud through a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration and …

CNBC reports: Bob Iger is back. Disney, in a shocking late Sunday announcement, said it had re-appointed Iger as chief executive, effective immediately, after Iger’s handpicked successor as CEO, Bob Chapek, came under fire for his management of the entertainment giant. Iger is a widely respected and liked figure at Disney. He oversaw its deals to acquire Pixar, Lucasfilm and …

West Palm Beach’s NBC affiliate reports: A Wellington father is suing the School District of Palm Beach County after he claimed his son’s teacher put up two LGBTQ pride flags in her classroom. Dr. Francisco Deliu’s 12-year-old son is in seventh grade at Emerald Cove Middle School. Deliu filed a lawsuit on Oct. 12 against the school district, Palm Beach …

PBS NewsHour reports: U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger in Orlando has dismissed a lawsuit brought by LGBTQ students, parents and their families — as well as several civil rights groups — and refused their request for a preliminary injunction to stop the law from being implemented. Earlier this month, a federal judge in Tallahassee dismissed a similar challenge to the …

The Hill reports: More than 30 House Republicans have signed on to a bill to prohibit federal dollars from being used to make “sexually-oriented” materials available to children under the age of 10. The measure introduced Tuesday by Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) would prohibit the use of federal funds to develop and host programs or events for children younger than …

The Daily Dot reports: Emails obtained by the Daily Dot reveal the DeSantis administration’s talking points on the Don’t Say Gay bill, a blend of fact and fiction sent to a slew of reporters, producers, editors, and far-right influencers, who in turn covered it in lockstep with the governor’s views. These documents, articles, and tweets further underscore how the prominent …

The Tampa Bay Times reports: A federal judge has rejected — at least for now — a lawsuit challenging a controversial new law that restricts instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools. U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor issued a 25-page order dismissing the case, finding that plaintiffs did not show they had legal standing. Winsor, however, said …

“We believe Disney is a place where people can come together with shared values of what an optimistic and ideal future can be. “We certainly don’t want to get caught up in any political subterfuge, but at the same time we also realize that we want to represent a brighter tomorrow for families of all types, regardless of how they …