House Democrats mounted a furious opposition to the Don’t Say Gay (HB 1557) and Stop WOKE (HB 7) bills during floor debate today. In the hours-long session, lawmakers submitted dozens of amendments in an attempt to remove the most dangerous components of the legislation, including efforts by members Representative Michele Rayner (HD 70) to eliminate the Don’t Say Gay provision entirely and Representative Anna V. Eskamani (HD 47) to mandate educational resources to help parents have conversations about LGBTQ identity with their children. Each was defeated. Both bills will now be debated and voted on by the full House of Representatives on Thursday, February 24.
Prior to today’s floor debate, the Don’t Say Gay bill sponsor Representative Joe Harding proposed an amendment that would force teachers to out LGBTQ students, even if it would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Rep. Harding withdrew this amendment just hours before the bill was introduced on the House floor due to overwhelming backlash from the public.
Members of the legislature provided powerful testimony as they put forth amendments to protect LGBTQ youth.
Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith (HD 49): “The moment the Department of Education discovered [their state website had resources to prevent anti-LGBTQ bullying] they scrubbed the site, removed the links, and only reposted anti-bullying links that did not include LGBTQ students…That same Department of Education is now going to be in charge of making sure that we keep vulnerable LGBTQ youth safe. I think what they did is appalling. I think we need to commit to making sure that we protect all students. And explicitly commit to protecting LGBTQ youth. And I don’t trust the Department of Education to do that.”
Representative Michele Rayner (HD 70): “LGBTQ people are a normal, healthy part of this world. I am normal. I am healthy. And I am part of this world and I am a part of this chamber. LGBTQ folks are parents, students, teachers….I don’t know if any of you have been in a place where you were not wanted or seen. I have been in this place and unfortunately many times in this chamber, I have felt like I have not been wanted or seen. So I’m asking my colleagues, especially those in the front rows, especially those who have members of their family who are LGBTQ — I am asking you, I am pleading, vote up on this amendment…If you vote down on this amendment, you’re voting against me and Rep. Smith’s humanity and who we are and that’s the message in itself.”
Representative Anna V. Eskamani (HD 47): “Pulse nightclub is in my district. And this tragedy resulted in the death of 49 mostly LGBTQ+ people of color in Orlando. And every day since then I’ve worn my rainbow ribbons and trans ribbons as acts of solidarity. Because I don’t just consider myself to just be an ally to the LGBTQ+ community. I consider myself to be an accomplice. Which means we have to go an extra step to ensure that every kid and every LGBTQ+ person can live life as their authentic selves and be supported while doing that. Not every environment is one where parents are supportive…PFLAG and GLSEN are two of the most trusted resources out there. And would help make sure that parents have some kind of exposure, some sort of understanding to the experiences of their kids. So they can have those conversations at a point that’s going to be open and welcome and inclusive. And not something that might shut that kid down or worse, push that kid into homelessness or take their own life. We’re not playing around with this. These are serious topics.”
Both bills are part of a slate of legislation aimed at helping Governor DeSantis stir up extremist outrage as he works to outflank Donald Trump to the right and shore up base voters ahead of a 2024 presidential run. The slate, which also includes the 15 week abortion ban bill and a bill to ban LGBTQ-inclusive books in schools, is crafted to give the state government license to police Floridians in all aspects of life. If signed into law, they would censor speech, muzzle teachers, police doctor’s offices, upend diversity training in workplaces, and propagandize education across the state. Governor DeSantis and his legislative allies have even proposed putting microphones and cameras in classrooms to monitor teachers.
The Don’t Say Gay bill, which bans discussion of LGBTQ people in primary grades, would further stigmatize the LGBTQ community, chill efforts to create inclusive school environments, and isolate LGBTQ young people who are already at staggeringly higher risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation than their peers. Its Senate companion is sponsored by Dennis Baxley, an Ocala Republican and staunch opponent of equal rights, who has compared LGBTQ community to “drunks” and “drug abusers,” and who has opposed anything that would “affirm” the existence of gay people and families.
The Stop WOKE Act would censor conversations about racism, discrimination, and injustice, allowing people to sue for discrimination if they are made to feel “guilty” or “discomfort” because of a training or school lesson. This extends to private businesses as well, giving employees the right to sue their employers for discrimination if trainings that cover implicit bias, racial equity, and even sexual harassment cause them discomfort. The bill would pervert the intent of Florida’s Civil Rights Act, causing companies, schools, and agencies statewide to avoid having these conversations to avoid legal liability. Already, Osceola County Schools canceled a civil rights history seminar for fear that the content could be viewed as Critical Race Theory.
In response to this Censorship and Surveillance slate of legislation, Equality Florida released its first-ever cable television ads, titled My Heroes and The Content of Our Curriculum, on Monday, February 14. The ads have been viewed over 500,000 times on digital platforms and are currently running in Florida television markets. They are part of a broad strategy to alert Floridians to the growing danger of the governor’s authoritarian agenda and the harm that will be inflicted by these bills.
The House Democratic Caucus will convene press availability outside the House chambers immediately following Thursday’s vote.
Full coverage of today’s debate can be viewed via the Florida Channel.
Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s LGBTQ community. Through education, grassroots organizing, coalition building, and lobbying, we are changing Florida so that no one suffers harassment or discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. www.equalityflorida.org
