Ron DeSantis is one of the most prominent Republican culture warriors. Florida schools are to be banned from teaching sexual orientation and gender identity.
TALLAHASSEE – Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to extend the controversial ban on teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity, already in place in elementary schools, to all ages. The corresponding initiative should be voted on in mid-April in the state education council, as US media reports. It should not be necessary for the Florida parliament to approve the expansion of the “Don’t say gay” law.
DeSantis last year banned teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. The extension of the rule was proposed by the Florida Board of Education and the Florida Department of Education, both of which are led by individuals appointed by DeSantis.
If the initiative is successful, sexual orientation and gender identity should no longer be taught in class from fourth to twelfth grade. Exceptions would apply in sex education classes, where participation is not compulsory.
Ron DeSantis – aspiring culture warrior and possible presidential candidate
The planned action immediately drew criticism from both Washington and LGBTQ activists. “Let’s not be fooled. This is part of a worrying and dangerous trend we are seeing across the country,” said White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre. The organization Equality Florida wrote on Twitter: “That was the goal from the start: general censorship and the ban on books.” DeSantis wanted to “serve his presidential ambitions” with his initiative, which was aimed at LGBTQ people.
The governor is considered a possible candidate for the 2024 presidential election. If he runs, he would have to compete in the Republican primaries against ex-US President Donald Trump. DeSantis is currently considered Trump’s most potentially dangerous rival. He is pursuing a radical right-wing course in Florida and was re-elected governor by a wide margin at the midterms in November 2022.
DeSantis has legislatively committed to the right-wing Kulturkampf. Florida has recently caused a stir because abortion laws there are to be further tightened. The bans on books in schools are also causing severe criticism: teachers face criminal prosecution if they hand out books to students that are considered “harmful”. The African American Studies elective in high school, which focuses on African American history and culture, has been eliminated. According to the Florida School Board, the subject has “no educational value.” (jso/AFP)