Florida Bans LGBTQ+ Instruction

USA

At the request of Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Board of Education has expanded the “Don’t Say Gay” law to ban classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in grades 4 through 12.

This rule change is set to take effect after a procedural notice period lasting about a month, and it exempts lessons on these topics only if they are required by existing state standards or as part of reproductive health instruction that students can choose not to take. Previously, such lessons were banned in kindergarten through third grade.

The proposal is part of Governor DeSantis’ aggressive conservative agenda, and he has not commented on it directly, leaving Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr to explain that the proposal is meant to clarify confusion around the existing law and reinforce the importance of sticking to existing curriculums. The move is seen as a divisive tactic as DeSantis gears up for an expected presidential run in the United States.