Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the controversial parental rights bill, which critics have dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" measure, into law. The bill deals mainly with students' access to mental health and other health services and places restrictions on classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity--especially in grades K through 3. Speaking in Spring Hill, the governor pointed the finger at school districts he claims are leaving parents out of the educational process and was highly critical of "sexualizing" the education of very young children through something he termed "the Gender-Bread Man."
"This is trying to sew doubt about kids--about their gender identity," the governor said. "It's trying to say that they could be whatever they want to be. This is inappropriate for kindergartners, first-graders, and second-graders. Parents don't want this going on in their schools."
Critics have said the bill will have far-reaching implications for students and teachers, but DeSantis has made it clear he's about "instruction, not indoctrination."
"We will not move from that," he said. "I don't care what corporate media outlets say. I don't care what Hollywood says. I don't care what big corporations say. Here I am. I'm not backing down."
DeSantis signed the bill at Classical Preparatory School, a K-12 charter school in Spring Hill.
Photo Credit: Getty Images