Karine Jean-Pierre calls Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay Bill” discrimination and vows to defend students with lawsuits once new parental rights legislation goes into effect
- “Any student or parent who believes they are being discriminated against is encouraged to file a complaint with the Department’s Office of Civil Rights.”
- Our government will continue to fight for dignity and opportunity for every student and family – in Florida and across the country,” said Jean-Pierre
- Florida Republicans have insisted the law only prevents teachers from speaking about sexual orientation or gender identity in Kindergarten-3 grades
- Jean-Pierre claimed that the effect of the law had already gone far beyond that
- “This is not a question of parental rights.” This is discrimination, pure and simple,” she added
Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law went into effect Friday, and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged students to file discrimination complaints if they feel the target of such behavior.
“Any student or parent who believes they are being discriminated against is encouraged to lodge a complaint with the Department’s Office of Civil Rights. Our government will continue to fight for dignity and opportunity for every student and family — in Florida and across the country,” Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
While Florida Republicans have insisted that the law only prevents teachers from speaking about sexual orientation or gender identity in Kindergarten 3 grades, Jean-Pierre claimed the law’s impact has already gone far beyond that.
“There have been reports of Safe Space stickers being removed from classrooms. Teachers are instructed not to wear rainbow attire. LGBTQI+ teachers are instructed to remove family photos of their husbands and wives – treasured family photos like the ones on my own desk,” the lesbian spokeswoman said.
Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law went into effect Friday, and White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged students to file discrimination complaints if they feel the target of such behavior
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spearheaded the culture wars with his state’s controversial Parents’ Rights in Education Act, dubbed by opponents the “Don’t Say Gay” law
A protester holding a sign takes part in a protest as Disney employees demonstrate against Florida’s Don’t Say Gay law
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Don’t Say Gay legislation into law in March, sparking a war with Disney
What is parental rights in education?
HB 1557 was introduced by two Republican members of the Florida Legislature – Rep. Joe Harding and Senator Dennis Baxley.
They say the bill’s goal is to “empower” “parents” in their children’s education and get teachers to see the difference between “teaching” and “discussion.”
“What we forbid is teaching them a specific direction,” Baxley said of how teachers direct students in a classroom.
“Students can talk about anything they want to bring up, but sometimes the right answer is, ‘You really should talk to your parents about it.’
It states that “classroom teaching by school staff or third parties about sexual orientation or gender identity must not take place”.
Some of this applies to children in kindergarten through third grade, while a vague part prohibits any discussion of “sexual orientation or gender identity” in a “way that is not age or developmentally appropriate.”
It also requires that districts “establish procedures for notifying a student’s parents if there are changes in the student’s services or supervision related to the student’s mental, emotional or physical health or well-being,” something LGBTQ advocates said could result in students being outed to their parents without the student’s knowledge or consent.
The State House approved the bill in February. It passed the Senate on March 8 by a vote of 22 to 17. DeSantis signed it on March 28th and it goes into effect on July 1st.
“This is not a question of parental rights.” This is discrimination, pure and simple,” she added.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office said the law simply protects children from “sexualized lesson plans.”
“The White House continues to lie about Florida’s work to protect children as young as five from sexualized lesson plans,” said Lindsey Curnutte, spokeswoman for the DeSantis campaign.
“Governor DeSantis’ parenting education agenda stands in stark contrast to the politics coming out of Washington as Joe Biden tries to steal lunch money from our kids to push woke gender ideology.”
The law was signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in March, sparking a war with Walt Disney Co., which openly opposed the law. DeSantis then removed Disney’s privileged tax status, a move that could actually cost nearby residents more taxes.
Earlier this month, Biden condemned the so-called “Ultra-MAGA laws” that discriminate against gays and transgender people when he announced executive orders aimed at boosting support for LGBTQ people
“I don’t need to tell you about the Ultra MAGA agenda that attacks families and our liberties,” he said at a Pride Month event at the White House.
As “wake-up indoctrination” in classrooms has become a frontline problem for conservatives, a number of states have taken steps to crack down on transgender students participating in girls’ sports, and some states have gone further.
Officially, Florida’s law is known as the Parents’ Rights in Education Act — but opponents deride it as the “Can’t Say Gay” law and warn it means vulnerable children aren’t getting the support they need.
And in Arizona, Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation barring doctors from performing “irreversible sex reassignment surgery” on minors.
Biden’s executive order will direct authorities to push back.
It directs the Department of Health and Human Services to protect families from attacks on access to health care by releasing guidelines on expanding services.
And it directs the Department of Education to develop a model school policy to promote the inclusion of LGBTQI+ students.
Conversion therapy also deserves special attention.
“President Biden also encourages the Federal Trade Commission to consider whether the practice constitutes an unfair or deceptive act or practice and whether to issue consumer warnings or notices,” the White House said in a factsheet.