Washington, DC – Today, Equality PAC Co-Chairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA) and Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) slammed the Florida Legislature’s passage of their “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which prevents teachers from discussing gender identity or sexual orientation in Florida classrooms. The bill now heads to Governor Ron DeSantis for his signature.
“Bigoted Florida Republicans have taken the drastic step of passing their cruel “Don’t Say Gay” bill through each house of the Florida State Legislature,” said Equality PAC Co-Chairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA) and Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI). “Simply put, this discriminatory bill places LGBTQ youth in harm’s way and we will not stand for it. We implore Governor DeSantis to stand up for LGBTQ Floridians and veto this legislation. In the meantime, we will continue to work with LGBTQ leadership in Florida, like Equality PAC endorsed candidate State Representative Michele Rayner, to fight for protections LGBTQ Floridians and Americans against all forms of hate and discrimination.”
Florida Republicans briefly proposed an amendment to the legislation that would have required teachers to “out” LGBTQ students to their parents, regardless of their situation at home. This amendment was pulled from the legislation by the sponsor.
Equality PAC is the political arm of the Congressional LGBTQ Equality Caucus and is dedicated to the full legal and societal equality for LGBTQ Americans. All funds raised into Equality PAC are spent supporting and electing openly LGBTQ individuals and strong LGBTQ allies to the United States Congress who are committed to passing the Equality ACT and to ensuring full civil rights and protections for all LGBTQ Americans.
