The video captures the shocking moment LGBT protesters descended on the Florida Capitol to demonstrate against bills that would bar minors from having access to sex reassignment surgery, in which a state official accused Gov. Ron DeSantis of “wiping out transgender babies.” have.
The procession was attended by activists from groups like Equality Florida, which have criticized the upcoming legislature as a continuation of the state’s attacks on the LGBT community.
During the demonstration — which took place as lawmakers debated passing a specific bill that would make “gender reassignment” for minors illegal — drag queens held signs reading “Free States Don’t Ban Drag Shows,” which refer to DeSantis ‘ well-known wish refer bar such shows.
Other opponents of the bill, officially dubbed SB 254, were seen chanting against DeSantis outside the Tallahassee building, with rallying shouts of “Hey, hey! Hoho! Ron DeSantis has to go!’ and ‘Our house!’
Despite the uproar, lawmakers shortly thereafter voted to move the bill forward, which, unlike the Stop WOKE Act and the Parental Rights in Education Law — better known as the Don’t Say Gay Bill — was not sponsored by DeSantis.
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The video captures the shocking moment when LGBT protesters descended on Florida’s Capitol to demonstrate against bills that would bar minors from accessing sex reassignment surgery
During the event, which took place as lawmakers debated passing a specific bill that would make “gender reassignment” for minors illegal, State Democrat Anna Eskamani accused Gov. Ron DeSantis of “wiping out transgender babies,” with guidance on medical care for trans children
Like the bills above, however, the guidance is part of a broader push to introduce laws that protect youth from abusive teachers, organizations and even parents and their progressive teachings.
Video captured from Tallahassee shows part of the distinct outcry of this ongoing campaign, which included an impassioned but strange claim by Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani that such leadership is “wiping out” transgender minors.
“You are wiping out our trans babies,” Eskamani, 32, told the crowd in a statement clearly addressed to her state’s governor.
“When you remove access to gender-affirming care, you erase trans people,” the Iranian-American rep added, before slamming DeSantis head on.
“We are facing a governor who wants to commit genocide against trans people,” she added, to cheers and applause from others in attendance.
The event was organized by Equality Florida — an organization that has been vocal in opposing the efforts of DeSantis and his right-wing allies — but dozens of other activist groups also emerged and quickly formed a double line in front of the Capitol building.
The procession would grow louder and louder, with revelers openly calling for DeSantis to be ousted and accusing the Republican of engaging in a concerted campaign to build on high-profile legislation passed last year, such as the so-called “Don’t Say Gay Law.
Other laws included in DeSantis’ war chest against the Woke include the aforementioned Stop WOKE Act, which restricts racial and diversity education and training in schools and workplaces, and the now infamous Don’t Say Gay law passed last year
Another bill under consideration is the House 1069 bill, which aims to expand the ban on books and restrictions on sex education. That bill was delayed last week, days before the Capitol protest, but is scheduled for a hearing by the Republican-led Senate in the coming weeks
The law prohibits teachers from teaching classes related to gender identity and sexual orientation and critical race theory (CRT) to students in third grade or below.
Other laws included in DeSantis’ war chest against the Woke include the aforementioned Stop WOKE Act, which restricts race and diversity education and training in schools and workplaces. The acronym stands for Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees.
Another policy signed by DeSantis last year, House Bill 1467, bans books in school libraries that contain “pornographic” content or are “inappropriate.”
Thousands of books deemed problematic are currently under review by Florida public school officials because the content is considered controversial by DeSantis.
More than 100 of the titles, including picture books like The Berenstain Bears and biographies of Black and Hispanic historical figures like Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron, have already been pulled in parts of the state, officials said last month.
Advocates like Emily Gray, a transgender outreach coordinator at Bay County’s LGBTQ Center, who attended the rally, have argued that lawmakers are introducing hate laws with the new bills
Now those laws appear to be bolstered by a new round of bills currently being considered by the Republican-led Senate, including the aforementioned Senate Bill 254 and House 1069 aimed at expanding the book ban and restrictions on sex education.
That bill was postponed last week, days before the Capitol protest, but is scheduled for a hearing in the coming weeks.
SB 254, sponsored by Republican Sen. Clay Yarborough, was debated Monday by the Florida Senate Health Policy Committee before moving forward before the day was out.
In a report outlining the prospective guidelines, Yarborough said their goal is “to protect children from the many life-changing and unknown long-term side effects that these treatments and procedures could have for them.”
Now all that is needed is DeSantis’ signature to pass the law, which “imposes restrictions on children under the age of 18 on obtaining sex reassignment prescriptions and surgeries.”
Meanwhile, advocates like Emily Gray, a transgender education coordinator at the Bay County LGBTQ Center in Florida, who attended Monday’s rally, have argued that the Republican legislature’s new bills are introducing hate laws.
They say the politician — who is expected to announce a presidential bid in May after the end of the legislative term — is unnecessarily targeting drag shows, treatments for transgender children, and diversity and equity programs in a bid to win favor with Republicans across the country ahead of his likely candidacy to get.
The Republican legislature, meanwhile, is sticking to supermajority in both houses, a fact that has helped fuel the ongoing backlash to the bills currently on view.
DeSantis has yet to officially announce his presumptive presidential ambitions.