On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1557, officially known as the Parental Rights in Education bill, into law at the Classical Preparatory School in Spring Hill, Fla.
The new law prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in Kindergarten through 3rd grade and also bars educators from discouraging or prohibiting “parental notification and involvement in critical decisions affecting a student’s mental, emotional, or physical well-being.”
The governor told reporters the measure is meant to protect the rights of parents to shield their children from inappropriate instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity and stop educators from hiding information about children from their parents. DeSantis claimed six school districts in Florida had policies that cut parents out of decisions regarding what their children are taught on the subjects.
The measure is strongly opposed by LGBTQ+ advocates, student groups, President Joe Biden, Democratic lawmakers, the Walt Disney Company, and many entertainment figures. Opponents argue it interferes with the rights of students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer, to speak out about who they are. Critics also argue it potentially harms students by outing them as LGBTQ to their parents.
Disney, one of the largest employers in the state, had vowed to help repeal the legislation. However, in-fighting began in the company between critics and supporters of the bill.
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