The Florida Board of Education on Wednesday unanimously voted to expand the state's so-called "Don't Say Gay" law to all grades.
The law, which previously banned schools from teaching students in kindergarten through third grade about gender identity and sexual orientation, now applies to kindergarten through 12th-grade classrooms.
"Educators in Florida are expected to teach to the state academic standards,” Board of Education Director of Communications Alex Lanfranconi said in a statement to WPEC. "The topics of gender identity and sexual orientation have no place in the classroom unless required by law. Today's state board action reaffirms Florida's commitment to uphold parental rights and keep indoctrination out of our schools."
Under the approved rule, lesson plans involving gender identity and sexual orientation may still be discussed in grades 4-12 if required by state academic standards or as part of age-appropriate reproductive health courses, but parents have the option of excluding their children from those conversations.
Education Commissioner Manny Diaz said the rule clarifies confusion around the existing "Parental Rights in Education" bill.
"We're not removing anything here," Diaz said, per the Associated Press. "All we are doing is we are setting the expectations so our teachers are clear: that they are to teach to the standards."
In signing the controversial law back in March 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis said the focus was on protecting parental rights in education.
"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 in a statement. "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."
Equality Florida slammed the board's decision to expand the "shameful" bill to all grades through graduation.
"Let's put it plainly: this is part of the Governor's assault on freedom," Joe Saunders, Equality Florida Senior Political Director, said in a statement. "This policy will escalate the government censorship that is sweeping our state, exacerbate our educator exodus, drive hardworking families from Florida, and further stigmatize and isolate a population of young people who need our support now more than ever. Shame on the DeSantis Administration for putting a target on the backs of LGBTQ+ Floridians."
Kelley Robinson, President of the Human Rights Campaign, said there's nothing wrong with discussing LGBTQ+ people, history and culture in the classroom.
"DeSantis and his allies show no shame in their government overreach and unrelenting desire to attack the freedoms of those different from them," Robinson said in a statement. "The Human Rights Campaign strongly condemns this form of dangerous, extremist politics. We will never stop fighting for LGBTQ+ Floridians, particularly transgender and non-binary children. They deserve better from their elected leaders, and they deserve to live full lives without fear."
The rule is set to take place in 30 days following a procedural comment period.
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