In the US, Republicans are fighting for influence over the curriculum in public schools. In Florida, the governor has now signed a controversial law restricting sex education – and received criticism.
Florida’s conservative Gov. Ron DeSantis has passed a controversial law banning teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in elementary schools. “We will ensure that parents can send their children to school for education, not indoctrination,” the Republican said before signing the law into law on Monday.
The opposition Democrats and representatives of the LGBTQ community have sharply criticized the law and given it the name “Don’t Say Gay” – something like: “Don’t say gay”.
Up to which class does the law apply?
The law, passed by the conservative-governed state’s legislature three weeks ago, affects children from kindergarten through third grade. It prohibits teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity “in a manner that is not age or developmentally appropriate for students”. According to critics, this wording makes it possible to apply the law to older children.
Republicans counter that the bill only prohibits the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in the official curriculum. Teachers could continue to speak spontaneously about the topic when children asked about it.
US President called the law “hateful”
The organization Equality Florida, which campaigns for LGBTQ rights, criticized DeSantis for signing the law. The governor’s doing so has “damaged our state’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive place for all families, making us a laughingstock and a target for nationwide mockery,” the organization said. “What’s worse, he’s made schools less safe for children.”
Criticism also came from US President Joe Biden earlier in the legislative process. In a message on Twitter, he described the proposed law as “hateful” and pledged the support of his democratically-led government to the LGBTQ community.
Florida Republicans have been fighting for months to give parents a greater say in what their children learn in school. In addition to sexual orientation, it is also about dealing with racism. In February, the Florida lower house of legislature passed a bill banning the teaching of racism issues from official school curriculum.