FL Ban On Gender, Sexual Identity Discussion Expands To All Grades

TALLAHASSEE, FL — A request by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to expand a controversial law prohibiting classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity to all grades was approved by the Florida Board of Education on Wednesday, according to an Associated Press report.

The proposal takes effect in about a month once a procedural notice period ends, an education department spokesman told The AP. It does not require legislative approval.

The Parental Rights in Education bill, dubbed by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, was signed into law last year. Currently, the bill prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade "in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students."

The law does not ban the word "gay" in schools, but it does prevent teachers from using lesson plans about gender identity and sexual orientation.

Last month, DeSantis asked education officials to expand the ban from grades 4 to 12 unless required by existing state standards or as part of reproductive health instruction that students can choose not to take, according to a separate AP report.

The Parental Rights in Education law also allows parents to sue Florida schools if these discussions occur. It requires schools to alert parents if there's any change to a student's mental, emotional, or physical health.

DeSantis has leaned heavily into cultural divides on his path to an anticipated White House bid, with the Republican aggressively pursuing a conservative agenda that targets what he calls the insertion of inappropriate subjects in schools.

"We will make sure that parents can send their kids to school to get an education, not an indoctrination," DeSantis said at the news conference following the bill's signing.

The bill has come under fire the past year, sparking a feud between the state and Disney, one of the state's largest employers and political donors, after the entertainment giant publicly opposed the law and said it was pausing political donations in the state.

Joe Saunders, senior political director of the LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Florida, called the law an "assault on freedom," according to an NBC News report, adding the policy will "further stigmatize and isolate a population of young people who need our support now more than ever."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.