Billboards emblazoned with the word ‘Gay’ and the slogan ‘Say Gay’ are due to go up around Florida from today.
The signs are going up in response to the state recently passing HB 1557, the Parental Rights in Education” bill. It’s been more commonly dubbed the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill as seeks to ban the discussion of LGBTQ topics mainly at the primary grade level.
The legislation passed the Republican-held House and Senate and is now awaiting signing by Governor Ron DeSantis. He has indicated he supports it.
Related: WATCH: Hundreds of Florida students walk out of class chanting “WE SAY GAY”
The billboards are the initiative of the super PAC, Southern Progress. The organization promotes progressive legislation and lawmakers in southern states. The group says it will be erecting the first signs in Tallahassee, Orlando, and Jacksonville from today for a month.
Billboards don’t come cheap, so there’s a fundraiser to help cover the costs.
“Over $300,000 in advertising inventory has been pre-approved in Florida for this advertisement. Please make a small contribution now and help us purchase it,” says a message on the campaign website.
President Biden has called the bill “hateful”. DeSantis, considered a potential 2024 GOP Presidential candidate, has defended it.
“Understand, if you are out protesting this bill you are by definition putting yourself in favor of injecting sexual instruction to 5-, 6- and 7-year-old kids,” DeSantis said at a recent press conference. “I think most people think that’s wrong. I think parents especially think that’s wrong.”
One of those supporting the billboards is Kim Mangone, a former Democratic congressional candidate in California who stood for election in 2020.
How many of these billboards do you want me to put up in Florida? pic.twitter.com/FDSbxggks3
— Kim Mangone (@KimMangone) March 21, 2022
“Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans have pissed us all off,” tweeted Adam Parkhomenko, a Virginia-based Democratic strategist working on the campaign. “So this week we are going to cover the state of Florida in these, in response.”
Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans have pissed us all off. So this week we are going to cover the state of Florida in these in response. pic.twitter.com/VjCMP6fVFW
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) March 21, 2022
Parkhomenko’s tweet was picked up by Donald Trump Jr., who took a screenshot of it and tweeted: “I was told by the left/the media you couldn’t say “GAY” in Florida? I guess they were full of shit as usual?!?”
I was told by the left/the media you couldn’t say “GAY” in Florida? I guess they were full of shit as usual?!? pic.twitter.com/GMrdXWaiCr
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) March 21, 2022
Related: Out senator breaks down during debate over ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill
Besides upsetting Don Jr., some others seem traumatized the signs are heading for the sunshine state.
Did these people even read what the bill was?
— DopaMEMES (@talklew) March 21, 2022
I remember back in the good old days when school was a place for learning and not a place for indoctrination. Parents had “the talk” with their kids and it was inappropriate for teachers to talk to their students about sexuality and sexual relations.
— Jason Hall (@jhall912) March 21, 2022
However, other folks online are looking forward to them.
Can not wait to see these. We need as much help as possible in FL right now. Love, a 2nd grade FL teacher 🍎
— Merlin (@teachermerlin) March 21, 2022
Please let one of the chosen billboards be the one near the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee.
— 🇺🇸🇯🇵The Opinionated Nurse💉❤️🩹👩🏻⚕️ (@CrystalTheMaker) March 21, 2022
Oh, and some thanked Don Jr. for raising the profile of the campaign to his 7.4million followers.
Thanks for promoting our stuff, Don! https://t.co/KdyMGH6Bzo
— Ally Sammarco (@Ally_Sammarco) March 21, 2022
white-queer-african
And so we wait with bated breath for all the right-wing nut jobs to scream with shreaking shrill voices: ” How dare the left do this in the backyard of our beloved f?rher Dumph”? Not forgetting his sidekick DeSantis’s hood.
SamB
I don’t know why you are taking such glee commenting on our problems in the US but you live in South Africa, with some of the worst perpetrators of hate crimes against gays, women and trans people. Your country is rife with “Corrective R@pe” to “cure” people of homosexuality.
“It is estimated that over 40% of South African women will be raped in their lifetime and that only 1 in 9 rapes are reported” a rate that is WAY higher than here.
What give you the right to sit on your high horse and laugh at another country when your own is a disaster and you appear to be happy about that?
Bonerboy
@SamB Ah…whataboutisms….isn’t that darling? And predictable.
white-queer-african
So SamB et al, finally you have realised and agree that I am not Cam! Sweetheart you must remember what you previously posted on Queerty! Then again you are demented and can’t recall the drivel you have posted previously.
I have previously acknowledged the problem we have in Sourh Africa. I do not wear blinkers unlike you. My husband being African-American we have a shared interest it African and American issues.
MISTERJETT
@SamB we as Americans rightfully concern ourselves with the issues of the world, so what’s wrong with it that others concern themselves with our issues. lighten up!!!!! WHITE-QUEER-AFRICAN, thanks for caring.
LeBlevsez
C’mon, SamB, have the stones to say what you really want to say, instead of relying on ad hominem honks. But you won’t, because railing against free speech would reveal your disdain for vigorous free thought.
Also, it’s rich that you would disparage the input of a non US citizen given your recent revelation regarding your own dual citizenship. ‘Cuz you know what’s worse than “them”? The weasel that won’t pick a side. This is true in the minds of all red-blooded, red-capped True Uhmuricans.
Whoopsie! You done pissed away all your True Uhmurican bona fides.
white-queer-african
@MISTERJETT, thank you. Thank you for your kind words but most importantly for putting SamB in it’s place. Every second comment contradicts a previous comment from SamB et al. It is certainly not the brightest sparkle in the sky.
LOL.LOL.LOL.
Den
Let’s not forget that SamB is obviously a troll, and thus has no concern about consistency of position. He is most likely not even a gay man, but just another of the right wing hetero anti-democracy fools who come here to try and get our goat.
mailliw110
Isn’t free speech wonderful!
Ultimo Patriarch
Just ignore the tirade from the precious Floridian as he is conflicted. I used to vacation there many times. Loved the beaches, food and cultures, but finally stopped going as the State had just too many bigots and haters who consistently voted for evil.
Mister P
It’s because parents like DeSanta say things like “injecting sexual instruction to children” that the schools need to teach about LGBTQ people.
ZzBomb
Florida and Texas, the perennial embarrassments of the US.
The Accidental Polemicist
@ZzBomb
Then why is it so many people are moving from blue states to states like Texas and Florida?
barryaksarben
To the accidental whatever. People have been moving to the sunbelt for decades for the warm weather nothing else. It has been going on since the freakin 60s long before any of this. I live in Florida and the education system is horrible with under-educated adults everywhere. NO ONE is currently teaching sex or gender to 5 6 or 7 year olds so this law although on the surface seems good it is not. Like crt this is NOT ACTUALLY happening except in the MINDS of the right wing. Its sponsors have admitted it is aimed at gay people nothing more or less. It is a hate bill nothing more. IF you are too stupid to understand this then you must be a trump deplorable
ondaboat0069
Add Mississippi, Louisiana, N & S Carolina
MISTERJETT
SAY IT LOUD!!!!!!!
GayEGO
My my my! These GOPs only think about sex and ignore the relationships. My lifetime partner of 57 years, married 15 years, enjoyed a wonderful life. I wish they would have taught us about relationships back in the 1940s and 1950s, there would have been less problems then.
Fahd
Thank goodness decent people are working to take back their state and their rights to free speech. I noticed the fundraiser link in the story.
Next: celebrity television commercials and lawsuits on behalf of gay families.
These haters can’t win in a democracy when decent people, who are in the majority, participate.
Donald Dork
It’s 160 years too late but maybe we should have just let them secede
Jessie Nice
I fully support this bill. We don’t need to teach young children who are in pre-K through 3rd grade anything about sex, sexuality and anything to do with the thousands of supposed genders that these insane sexual predator leftist want to create everyday! Young children should make up their minds and learn about this stuff when they’re 7th grade and up. Anything below 7th grade shouldn’t be forced to be indoctrinated by the radical leftist and there disgusting ideologies. This bill needs to be mandated all over the US! Don’t say Gay!
bigbronzespider
I feel like your comment is a joke. If not, you’re twisted pervert obsessed with the sexuality of children.
animalguy
Jesse Nice I could only have wished to have seen or read something when I was that young. I went through such dark times thinking I was such a nasty boy for feeling the way I did. Maybe if I had someone to look up to that was like me I wouldn’t have been such a mess and did all I did and hurt all the women I did, till I gave in to who I actually was. I love my daughter, but hurt her mother so bad.
Now I have been very happy with my husband for 35 years married 7 years. My daughter love my husband. It is so sad I had to go through such a bad life as a kid.
mailliw110
My friends in fifth grade were drinking, smoking and having sex. Maybe you should reevaluate your thinking?
WillParkinson
Your ignorance is showing. The right is fear mongering, which is about the only thing they do well.
barryaksarben
predator leftist lol what a joke when almost every high profile pedos are ALWAYS right wing pro family religious liars. Can you say Josh Duggar? And again I live in Florida and there is not one school teaching 5 6 or 7 year olds sex or gender they are only a few schools that have taught tolerance of different families NOTHING SEXUAL JUST REALITY. Grow up you mindless deplorables
HenryCameron
Every one of these billboards is a gift to the Republicans.
arie570
Although I do believe we don’t need to talk explicitly about sex of any type to 5 year olds…Olds… think explaining gay in a way they understand is great and what DeSantis and his cohorts don’t understand….Such as why doesn’t Uncle Bob have a wife. Answer he’s gay and likes other guys. Simple to the point and not graphic. I don’t think anyone thinks we need to be having them read The Joy’s of Gay Sex…Well yet
Lol
202gay.com
The Ukrainian flag should be hung on this shield! The country that started this war should think about other billboards
mailliw110
Ummm…what?
tzwicky
I wonder how many questions to Siri will go something like: “Siri, please show me how to drive from home to WalMart without having to drive past one of those terrible ‘GAY billboards’! I can drive on highways or streets but I just do not want to see one of those signs.”
johncp56
LOVE you Gay Gy=a GAY Gay Gya GAY Gay Gya GAY Gay Gya GAY Gay Gya GAY
The Accidental Polemicist
Keep putting those billboards up!
They are a gift to the Republican party. As more and more people learn what is actually in the bill, it only shows how far removed the left is from what is best for children and their parents.
Keep it up! Actions like these only strengthen a red tsunami this fall.
mailliw110
I don’t know why their parents would still be in primary school, but it is Florida.
johncp56
GAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Does not rub off !, like sharing a school room with the KKK you let them in everyday and never a peep!!!~!!
Fname Optional Lname
Funny how when they refer to gay couples it’s always and only about sex but when they refer to straight couples it’s always about true love.
Ken A.
I think these billboards are obnoxious. Gay is not outlawed in Florida, it’s not even outlawed in schools. This bill just keeps innocent kids innocent and gives the power back to the parents. What if they don’t talk about it. Well it didn’t hurt us and we turned out fine. They’ll find out later like we did. DeSantis may have signed it, their senators may have drafted it and voted for it but it was their constituents who wanted it. Parents wanted it. The billboards make it look like we’re an obnoxious bunch.
twomen4u
Please put one in front of Don Jr’s residence and also two at the governor’s mansion in Tallahassee. Parents have always had the right to know what is being taught to their children, I did as I met every one of my children’s teachers and sometimes even the school board superintendents.
trojanboy
Great concept. Bravo.
So sad that this still needs to be done but the unevolved will be weeded out eventually. Nature. Natural Selection.