Could a Florida law protect those who discriminate against LGBTQ people from being called out for their bigotry?
House Bill 991 was introduced by Florida Republican Alex Andrade shortly after Gov. Ron DeSantis promised a re-evaluation of the state’s defamation laws. According to Andrade, the legislation will increase accountability and defend those who have been falsely accused.
Proposed legislation, according to opponents, would allow anyone accused of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity to not only avoid responsibility but also sue accusers for $35,000 in damages. And according to some attorneys’ reading of the proposal, if accusers point to someone’s religion as the root of the discrimination, it wouldn't matter if that were true.