On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) signed the state’s Parental Rights in Education legislation, a bill banning classroom teachings on “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” for young children in kindergarten through third grade.
“Parents’ rights have been increasingly under assault around the nation, but in Florida we stand up for the rights of parents and the fundamental role they play in the education of their children,” DeSantis said. “Parents have every right to be informed about services offered to their child at school, and should be protected from schools using classroom instruction to sexualize their kids as young as 5 years old.”
“Parental Rights in Education empowers Florida’s parents and safeguards our children,” Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez said. “This bill refuses to allow school boards and teachers unions the ability to hide information about students from their parents. In addition, it prohibits classroom discussion in grades K-3 on gender orientation and sexual identity. Throughout this legislative session, this bill has been maliciously maligned by those who prefer slogans and sound bites over substance and common sense. Fortunately, Governor DeSantis and I believe that parents should have a say. We will not back down to woke corporations and their same tired tactics that are steeped in hypocrisy. As a mother of three, I am committed to protecting the rights of parents.”
According to a statement from DeSantis’ office, the bill – which has been falsely labeled the “Don’t Say Gay” bill – takes “three key steps to protect students and put power back in the hands of parents.”
“This bill prohibits classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in K-3 classrooms, and after 3rd grade, these conversations need to be age-appropriate,” the statement said. “The bill ensures that at the beginning of every school year, parents will be notified about healthcare services offered at the school, with the right to decline any service offered.”
“The bill ensures that whenever a questionnaire or health screening is given to K-3 students, parents receive it first and provide permission for the school to administer the questionnaire or health screening to their child,” the statement added.
