On Monday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into a law a measure restricting what can be taught in classrooms on gender identity or sexual orientation, officially known as the Parental Rights in Education bill, at the Classical Preparatory School in Spring Hill, Fla.
The new law prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity 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 “clearly inappropriate” instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity. Six school districts in Florida had policies that cut parents out of decisions regarding what their children are taught on the subjects.
Opponents argue it interferes with students who want to identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer.
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