Last week, Florida reached a settlement with LGBTQ activists over the Parental Rights in Education Act that was passed into law in 2022.
The law prohibits classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity in K–3 classrooms, and grades following, the topics need to be age-appropriate.
But a move that surprised many conservatives was the settlement that was made between the state and LGBTQ groups. The details include that teachers and students can discuss sexual orientation if it is not part of the instruction.
Both sides are claiming victory. Groups that sued the state, like Equality Florida, applauded the decision. Gov. DeSantis’ office also claimed it as a win.
“We are victorious, and Florida’s classrooms will remain a safe place under the Parental Rights in Education Act,” said General Counsel Ryan Newman.
But some conservatives don’t see it as a win for the Governor or for the state.
The Christian Family Coalition (CFC) Florida says the language in the settlement is concerning and it would allow LGBT activist teachers and administrators the opportunity to violate intent.
“The settlement allows LGBTQ-promoting “safe space” stickers and even discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom, as long as they are not part of formal “instruction.” It also explicitly permits student cross-dressing, same-sex school dances, reading assignments and school plays with LGBTQ themes, LGBTQ “anti-bullying” instruction (which is often code for LGBTQ indoctrination), and on-campus “extracurricular activities” such as Gay-Straight Alliances, which are notorious for indoctrinating and sexualizing schoolchildren,’ said the CFC.
The group mention disappointed with the Governor’s office they were not consulted for their input before the agreement was reached, since CFC and other pro-family organizations worked so hard to get the Parental Rights in Education law enacted in 2022.
CFC Florida Founder and Executive Director Anthony Verdugo says they are already working on a legislative package for next year’s legislative session to address all the loopholes we believe this settlement has opened.
“We fully expect LGBT activist teachers and administrators will be working to exploit the new settlement,” said Verdugo.
Moving forward, lawmakers will have to figure out how the law will be applied to “classroom instruction” on the topic of gender identity.
