Florida lawmakers pass controversial 'Don't Say Gay' schools bill

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is one of America's most prominent conservatives and seen as a possible presidential contender in 2024

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is one of America's most prominent conservatives and seen as a possible presidential contender in 2024

Florida's state senate on Tuesday passed a controversial bill banning lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in elementary schools, a step that critics complain will hurt the LGBTQ community.

The legislation goes to Governor Ron DeSantis, who says he supports it, now that it has passed both chambers of the state legislature.

The bill also bans teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity "in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards." 

Republicans counter that teachers and students can in fact speak spontaneously about sexual orientation and gender identity and that the bill simply bans lessons on these issues from being part of official school curricula.

The advocacy group Equality Florida charged that state lawmakers have "locked arms with the angry mobs hurling anti-LGBTQ slurs at those asking for nothing more than a safe place to go to school without having to hide who they are."

For months, Republicans in Florida have been waging what they call a battle for parents to have a greater say over what their children learn in school.

The Republican governor is seen as a possible presidential contender for his party in 2024 -- possibly challenging Donald Trump if he decides to runs again. 

Last month, the lower house of the Florida legislature passed a bill banning the teaching of race-oriented subjects as part of official school curricula.

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