Florida settles lawsuit over LGBT education bill
According to a legal settlement, gender identity and sexual orientation may be addressed in Florida classrooms as long as it’s not part of formal instruction.
Announced on Monday, the settlement clarifies the boundaries of a contentious state education law, leaving it intact.
Plaintiffs contested Florida’s parental rights bill, passed in 2022, arguing it could marginalise LGBT youth.
Both Florida officials and the plaintiffs hailed the settlement as a victory on Monday.
Roberta Kaplan, the lead attorney in the lawsuit, stated that the settlement offers “much-needed clarity” and “represents a significant victory for the many thousands of LGBTQ+ students, teachers, parents, and their allies throughout Florida.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s office labelled it a “major win.”
“We fought hard to ensure this law couldn’t be maligned in court, as it was in the public arena by the media and large corporate actors,” said general counsel Ryan Newman.
Originally dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by critics, the Parental Rights in Education Act initially barred discussions and teachings on gender identity and sexual orientation from kindergarten through third grade in state public schools, later extending to all grades through high school.
The law ignited a political uproar, drawing criticism from LGBT and civil rights organisations, as well as major corporations like Disney, which has a significant presence in the state, and President Joe Biden.