
Florida Republicans have passed two bills that ban diversity programs in colleges and prevent the use of pronouns that don’t align with someone’s sex in schools.
These bills align with the priorities of Republican Governor and presumed presidential candidate Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign them into law. The bills expand on the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law, banning instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in classrooms up to the 8th grade. They also prohibit the use of state or federal funding for diversity programs in colleges.
Democrats have criticized the policies claiming they marginalize LGBTQ+ students and students of color and students. This is just the latest in a series of new conservative education policies enacted by Florida. Many of the education bills passed in Florida have inspired copycat bills in other red states.