The state of Florida settled a lawsuit against the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law on Monday. This law limits how LGBTQ issues can be talked about and shown in schools.
This settlement deal makes the 2022 Parental Rights in Education Act clearer. It keeps the law in place but lessens some of the parts that LGBTQ rights activists in the state said could legally restrict their rights.
The settlement was seen as a victory for Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-Fla.) policy plan by his office.
State general counsel Ryan Newman said in a statement, “We fought hard to make sure this law couldn’t be slandered in court, as it was in public by the media and big businesses.” “We won! The Parental Rights in Education Act will keep Florida’s classrooms safe all the time.”
It was later made illegal for teachers to talk about LGBTQ issues with elementary school students, and later it was made illegal for high school students as well. The law’s vague language caused worries about censorship and civil liberties. After the bill became law, many LGBTQ rights groups sued the state over it.
A lot of people didn’t like the law, and it even led to a fight with Disney over regulations that ended up in court.
A federal court informed the final two plaintiffs last month that they lacked the right to continue suing. This led to a settlement on Monday that cleared up the problems with the vague wording.
The Florida Department of Education agreed to send a memo to all Florida school districts explaining that the law does not totally forbid talking about LGBTQ people and topics in the classroom, but it does require that sexuality and gender identity be talked about in a neutral way.
Cecile Houry, a plaintiff, told the Tampa Bay Times that the deal saves time and makes the law better by avoiding another long appeals process.
“People avoided everything because the law was so vague,” Houry said. “This really is a list of what is not allowed and what is allowed.” It’ll change how the kids feel.
She said the changes to the deal make her feel better about her 7-year-old daughter.
“She talks about everything all the time now that my kid is this age,” she said. What she says doesn’t bother me anymore, so I feel better.
