Education Secretary Slams Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill as 'Hateful'
Miguel Cardona condemned Florida's controversial Parental Rights in Education bill as being "hateful" after lawmakers in the state Senate moved to pass the legislation on Tuesday.The bill, nicknamed by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, would heavily restrict primary school teachers in Florida from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity with their students.
The legislation has been widely scrutinized for having broad language that opponents say could lead to students and instructors facing punishment for discussing any LBGTQ related topics during class."Parents across the country are looking to national, state, and district leaders to support our nation's students, help them recover from the pandemic, and provide them the academic and mental health supports they need.
Instead, leaders in Florida are prioritizing hateful bills that hurt some of the students most in need," Cardona said in a statement Tuesday."The Department of Education has made clear that all schools receiving federal funding must follow federal civil rights law, including Title IX's protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity," the statement said. "We stand with our LGBTQ+ students in Florida and across the country, and urge Florida leaders to make sure all their students are protected and supported."Specifically, the bill bans any classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation from kindergarten through third grade.
It also prohibits such teaching "in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students," which opponents say could be applied to all grade levels.
