A proposed Florida Board of Education rule could expand restrictions on classroom instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity. This rule would build up on the Parental Rights in Education law Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in March 2022. The law bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. It states that any instruction on those topics cannot occur “in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students by state standards.
A spokesperson for the governor told ABC News’ Rachel Scott in a statement, “There is no reason for instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity to be part of K-12 public education. Full stop.” Laura McGinnis of the LGBTQ+ advocacy group PFLAG told ABC News that “everyone has a sexual orientation and a gender identity. It looks like this rule would make it impossible to do much instruction at all.” This rule, voted on by the seven-member board, coincides with other legislation being considered in the state legislature.
The proposed legislation would also make it a statewide public school policy that it is false to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to such person’s sex.
A hearing on the proposed board policy will be held on April 19 at the Florida State Capitol Complex.
