US state of Florida: It’s about more than words

Florian Mayer
ARD-Studio Washington

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A title that only very rarely appears in US reporting and in the debate. Instead it is called: “Don’t say gay bill”. Opponents of the bill, Democrats, members of the lesbian, gay, bi, trans and queer movements coined this term.

Their reasoning: The law prohibits students and teachers from generally speaking about sexual orientation in class – saying the words gay, lesbian, bi, trans or queer in class.

A setback for the LGBTQ movement

Requiring schools not to say gay or trans in class is slowly erasing that segment of society, argued Florida Democratic Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith. And expressed what many of the LGBTQ community in the US think.

People who have had to fight for their rights in politically conservative states like Florida for years. As student Will Lurkins said: “I’ve had to fight for my right to exist in my school. And it hasn’t stopped and it won’t stop and I will keep fighting. And that’s exhausting,” the student told NPR radio.

Unclear wording

Delving deeper into the seven-page draft law reveals the frontline of this culture war. The words gay, trans, bi and Co. do not appear in it at all. Specifically, saying these words is not prohibited – but “discussing sexual orientation and gender identity in lessons from kindergarten to 3rd grade or in a way that is not age-appropriate.”

A wording deliberately imprecisely chosen by the Republican majority in Florida, says Democratic Representative Shevrin D. Jones from Florida in an interview with CNN. Age-appropriate is not precisely defined. This serves as a basis for argument for opponents of the “Don’t say gay bill”. And at the same time, it is also that of the advocates of the law who argue that the law does not specifically prohibit saying gay, lesbian, bi or trans.

This is also the line of the Republican and strongly conservative Governor of Florida, Rick DeSantis: he said weeks ago that he supported the draft and explained that there is currently a mindset in the USA that says parents are not allowed to have a say in what theirs children learn in school. He rejects that.

Disney supports protests after criticism

The resistance to this in the Sunshine State is large and loud. And now also receives prominent support. Disney CEO Bob Chapek said at a meeting with company shareholders that he had spoken to Gov. DeSantis and voiced his concerns about the law’s potential to stigmatize families and children.

A statement Chapek made after the law passed the Florida Senate and numerous Disney employees took to Twitter to protest their boss’s silence.

It now depends only on Gov. DeSanti’s signature whether the bill becomes permanent law in Florida. Both opponents and supporters consider it certain that he will sign.