Florida’s pro-Nazi, anti-LGBTQ Gov. Ron DeSantis is currently being ripped to shreds on Twitter after he voiced his support for the archaic “Don’t Say Gay” bill that is gaining momentum in the Florida Legislature.
The bill, which was introduced by state Republicans last month is on the agenda for next Tuesday’s meeting of Senate Education Committee, would make it illegal for teachers to talk about sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida primary schools.
“Schools need to be teaching kids to read, to write,” DeSantis told reporters this week. “They need to teach them science, history. We need more civics and understanding of the U.S. Constitution, what makes our country unique, all those basic stuff.”
Related: Biden admin attacks Florida GOP for trying to ban teachers from talking about LGBTQ people
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“The larger issue with all of this is parents must have a seat at the table when it comes to what’s going on in their schools,” he added, stopping just short of saying whether he will sign to homophobic bill into law.
We hate to be so cynical, but it seems incredibly likely DeSantis will sign it the second it lands on his desk. The guy holds a 0 rating from the Human Rights Campaign for his record on LGBTQ issues. He opposes same-sex marriage and nondiscrimination protections for queer people, and he supports “religious freedom” laws and barring trans athletes from competing in sports.
Now, the tweets…
Republicans are making bills literally named “Don’t Say Gay”, so that LGBTQ+ issues cannot be discussed in schools, making children less accepting & more hateful.
Can we pass a bill called “Don’t See GOP”, because I never want to see these stupid motherfuckers again.
— Kyla In The Burgh 🔥🏴☠️ (@KylaInTheBurgh) February 9, 2022
This “don’t say gay” bill in Florida is appalling. Punishing teachers for acknowledging gay people exist is archaic.
If you want to ban an actual offensive word from Florida schools, may I suggest “DeSantis”
— Steve Hofstetter (@SteveHofstetter) February 9, 2022
Instead of sitting idly by while Nazis in America make laws to persecute People of Color, LGBTIQA+ Americans, and *everyone else* who they HATE…
Let’s make some laws to persecute some f****** Nazis!
Cuz if you STILL don’t get it – it’s LITERALLY Us or Them!
# Don’t Say Gay
— Mark Judson For Congress – Scorched Earth Dem 2022 (@Judson4Congress) February 9, 2022
The dick of the day trophy goes to sociopath Ron DeSantis for pushing the “Don’t Say Gay” bill—designed to make sure children in primary school get discriminated against for being exactly who they are.
Ron is the proud sewer of earth.#DickOfTheDay 🏆
— Jason Overstreet (@JasonOverstreet) February 9, 2022
The first time I said “I’m gay” out loud was to my 8th grade teacher. I was utterly terrified of anyone finding out, but I felt safe & protected. FL’s Don’t Say Gay bill would strip that safety from thousands of children. This bill will leave blood on their hands. RT & follow!
— Janelle Perez for State Senate (@janellesofia) February 8, 2022
Republicans live in a world where kids having to wear masks to school is an unforgivable infringement on freedom, but having their sexual orientation marginalized through a “Don’t Say Gay” bill is totally fine.
— Rex Zane (@rexzane1) February 9, 2022
Don’t Say Gay?
FUCK YOU!
— Mayo (@Mayoisstillspi1) February 9, 2022
Why does Ron DeSantis hate gay people and like Nazis?
— Agolf Twitler Slayer (@bblock29) February 9, 2022
Florida’s attempt to legislate “Don’t Say Gay” should be every bit as successful as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was.
— W. M. (@Minuteman04) February 9, 2022
Ron DeSantis and his “Don’t Say Gay” bill is intended to make Florida kids as hateful as their parents, who clearly don’t know what is best for them because they are bigoted Republicans.
— Kate 🤍🇺🇸 (@ImSpeaking13) February 9, 2022
Here’s a video of Pete Buttigieg talking about the bill, which he calls “dangerous”, on CNN this morning.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
SamB
Despite what “Kyla In The Burg” thinks, it’s not “literally” called the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. It’s called the “Parental Rights in Education” Bill.
Old Flint
Or, Rights for Bigoted Homophobic Parents in Education and Everyone Else Be Damned Bill. Fixed it.
SamB
Old Flint: Have you read the bill? It’s mostly about parents being involved in the education of their kids at a primary school level. That means these kids are aged 5 to 11. And it really only restricts talking about sexual orientation and gender identity to an age-appropriate level. So what’s the big deal? Do you want to teach 5 year old about gay s@x?
ZzBomb
No one is teaching kids about gay sex, but this completely discriminates against the kids of the LGTBQ+ families. When you can only mention a “mommy and daddy” as the only viable family setup, that discriminatory. Not hard to understand, Sam.
James Hart
DeSantis is “pro-Nazi”?
He should sue Queerty for libel and defamation of character. Perhaps he will.
Cam
@SamB
The right wing troll that always defends bigoted Republicans desperately comes in to try to deflect from the topic by nitpicking ridiculously.
Translation: DeSantis is a bigot and he is pushing a bill that is a massive attack on the LGBTQ community trying to erase our existence from any history or other classes.
The fact you are trying to deflect and defend him just cements what an obvious, bigoted, hateful agenda you are here to push.
Your troll game is sad and weak.
SamB
ZzBomb: That’s not what it says at all. It says they can talk about it as long as it’s within the comprehension level of a 5 year old. If one kid say “I have two dads” they’re not going to rush the kid out and ban him from school. They’ll probably contact the parents and say “ok, this is the way we’ll approach this to be age appropriate, is this ok?”
No where does it say ban, anywhere in the bill. And if they do try and take if further, that’s when you react, that’s how life works. You can’t ban a bill because of what you “think” might happen.
dbmcvey
No, it’s just more anti-gay bigotry.
SamB
dbmcvey: How is it antigay? Did you read it? It’s only saying that gay/gender subject matter will be discussed in an age appropriate manner and that parents will be involved. How is that anti gay? Do you think having a parent involved in their kid’s education a bad thing?
ZzBomb
You are a very misinformed self hating person.
And yes we can ban bills based off what projected consequences are, we can even fight them in court and will. This is discrimination and there’s no debate about that. You right wingers need to stop this bs already.
James Hart
SamB:
Most of the commenters here are left-wing morons and alarmists, so ignore them. I’m a libertarian and I believe parents – who are taxpayers – have a right to question what their children are taught in government-run schools even if I disagree with them. That’s what freedom means.
johncp56
So hidden in sheep’s clothing, hate is hate, this is why the suicide rate goes up, this give the bullies even more to use against us and those poor kids that would have no problem knowing their friends in school or the parents are gay, the GOP is the party of hate!!!
SamB
James: I think ZzBomb wants to live in a communist society. It’s his way or the highway, no discussion no trying to understand a relevant point. You’re right, parents pay taxes and should have a say in what their kids are taught, if people like Z had their way parents who don’t “obey” would have their kids taken away from them, and the parents thrown into the gulag for “re-education”.
ShiningSex
Doesn’t matter what you call it, it’s still a homophobic bill. End of story. Stop trying to deflect.
Jack
@SamB. We won’t say Gay to you, troll. I’m sure nobody on here would come near you with their D’s if you were the last man on earth. You are dismissed dude.
[email protected]
Nor being in favor of teaching children about sexual orientation does not make you a homophobe or a heterophobe for that matter. Children in primary school should be studying reading, writing, math, and history. Our kids are falling so far behind other developed countries in those subjects thanks to public education being more about social justice than educating children to prepare to compete in college and the workplace. Let parents teach their children about sex. Why do so many people trust public education to teach about anything when high school students are reading at elementary school levels. That’s child abuse. The public school system has failed the children because politicians are beholden to the union instead of the students. Hope I didn’t offend anyoe here….lmfao
cosmostephen
Nonsense. You’re teaching children about the beautiful spectrum of the human race. Not gay sex. The US is falling behind other countries in terms of education because of restricting and religious based curriculums and outdated, moralistic views.
ZzBomb
The reason our education system is failing its students are b/c of politicians like DeSantis, the religious right, and the right-wing’s incessant unsubstantiated fear that kids are being indoctrinated. Let the teachers teach, it’s their job. Bills like this hinder educational progress b/c it detracts and distracts from the educational process.
Cam
Actually it does make you a bigot, but it’s cute you keep thinking that switching a screename will hide the fact you are the same old troll.
In other words, in a History class, they can mention that this President or Secretary of the Interior had a wife. Under this rule they cannot mention that Pete Buttigieg has a husband. The goal is to erase us.
As for your lame line of “Our kids are falling behind”, funny, it’s the kids in Red states who are the furthest behind, and just WHO are our kids falling behind? Our kids are falling behind countries with the best schools, which are Finland, Sweden, etc….who absolutely teach that LGBTQ people exist.
Mack
One of SamB many screen names supporting right wing bigots.
Brian
What bigots don’t understand is that heterosexuality is a sexual orientation too. When you mention that George Washington’s wife was Martha Washington, you have just discussed sexual orientation. When you say that Donald Trump has children from three different women, and his most recent wife is Melania, you have just discussed sexual orientation.
These bigots aren’t writing laws against sexual education, in the sense of sexual intercourse or other mature material. They seek to ban any mention of gay people. They think it’s somehow inappropriate to mention that Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” is about men, not women. But other poetry (Shakespeare, etc.) can be explicitly heterosexual, and that’s fine by them.
These people want a redacted form of reality where heterosexuality is commonly discussed while gay people don’t exist.
johncp56
Ye sit does, we had sex ed in middle school I knew I was gay, and the lessons were not sexualizing anyone, just facts of all!! our lives, The GOP and republicans are the new face of hate
Jaquelope
If they are going to teach history, they need to teach all of it, not just some watered-down version, and not what is favorable to one side or another, which many schools seem to be doing.
If some students only have two daddies or two mommies, and the only coupling that a teacher can mention is mommy and daddy, then that can lead to confusion in an elementary student’s mind, and youth is when learning has the most chance of remaining, and colors the rest of the child’s outlook for life.
ShiningSex
Parents DON’T teach about sex. I have had this discussion with numerous friends and not one of them said their parents talk to them about sex, so your idea doesn’t work OBVIOUSLY.
Sex education in school is important because they can answer uncomfortable questions that parents won’t or that kids wouldn’t want to ask their parents.
cc423
He is not Sam B… he is Jared Kullman, a bankruptcy attorney in Florida and dedicated troll.
Ste211
Schools are failing students because politicians have decided that teachers must teach to test scores instead of teaching the individual and their needs. Also, why is it that every time acknowledging a sexual orientation other than heterosexual it’s ALWAYS only about sex?
Kangol2
The anti-gay/anti-LGBTQ, homophobic GOP, at it again! Indefensible but of course, its gay, bi and trans lackeys will probably find some way to defend it and Mini-Me Don the Con Nazi-defending Ron the Con DeSantis!
barryaksarben
Who are all these trolls defending DiSantis? Again we are not stupid deplorables who are easily fooled by lies. Oh yes, the bill sounds quite reasonable like the pos himself BUT why the bill? Because the right knows it can not win a fair election unless they anger their base with lies. WHy are all these bills being passed to not teach CRT when there is not ONE school of any kind in Florida teaching it or having plans to teach it. It isnt the focus of the bill to do anything other than to anger their ignorant ,violent UnAmerican base. This bill prevents the mere mention of gay and even a 5 year old can have two mommies or daddies so the fact that OF COURSE SEX ITSELF isnt nor planned on being taught to small children this is a false flag of nothing BUT HATE so screw you and your oh so reasonable LIES because you are LYING as is DiSantis. We can not let any of this go un- noticed and must fight all these FALSE FLAG LAWS for the UNAMERICAN hate filled dogturds they are. And all you trolls if we want any of your shit we will scrape it off your teeth. How do you all kiss trumps ass at the same time? I know it is huge and the diaper makes it looks bigger but still so many of you are lined up.
Jaquelope
Hasn’t he also been called “Ron Deathsentence” because of some of his antics just after the COVID virus became a pandemic?
@barryaksarben : When did you start defending the trolls? Has someone hacked your account again, and stolen your user name?
ZzBomb
For the political party which is supposedly against “cancel culture” they sure do try to “cancel” a lot.
barryaksarben
CRT, this and even honest members of their own party. The traitorous murdering pigs who attacked our nations capitol we are to believe were participating in inoffensive legal political gathering. Party of LIES, party of PUTIN
[email protected]
The point is that the proper role of public schools is NOT teaching about “the beautiful spectrum of the human race”. School should at the very least be giving students the basic foundations that one should expect from a primary school education….READING, WRITING, MATH, and HISTORY…all of which the public school system is failing our children. First, teach our children those things effectively. Then you can teach them about the beautiful spectrum of the human race.
Thad
But public schools aren’t failing America’s kids. Millions of children are getting a good education, despite occasional lack of resources in some districts. Schools with parental involvement will always succeed.
So why would you restrict teachers’ ability to speak to real-world issues like gay families?
Brian
Reading and writing: Okay, well, gay authors exist.
History: Gay people have existed for a million years.
I do find it interesting that you don’t want kids learning sciences, such as biology, which prove that being gay is a real thing.
David
They are not teaching kids about gay sex, that remark must be a troll, a rational gay person wouldn’t jump to that conclusion. Teaching tolerance as opposed to intolerance. Florida is a third world country, run by a dictator with his muse in waiting at Mar-a-Lago and he protests too much. How many meth parties does he have with pool boys?
James Hart
David said: “How many meth parties does he have with pool boys?”
You must be thinking of Andrew Gillum.
Jaquelope
@James Hart : Don’t you mean Jerry Falwell (and he has well fallen), Jr.?
Brad J
First and foremost – parents do not get to dictate the curriculum in a public school – they can opt out of having their kids in certain classes or discussions, but…this is the reverse – they want to opt EVERYONE out by cancelling it completely (and scream about cancel culture otherwise).
Second – saying ‘being against teaching sexual orientation doesn’t make you a homophobe…’ – is about as valid an argument as ‘I’m not racist, I have a black friend’….are you also against making any reference to the husband or wife or girlfriend or boyfriend of any heterosexual author, singer, historical figure, etc, or just the gay ones? This bill isn’t about teaching the orientation….of either…it’s about removing any reference to ‘gay’ in anything…there’s no mention of removing any references to ‘straight’ in there – just gay….so to claim this is not targeting LGBTQ people….is a lie that bigots and homophobes tell themselves to sleep at night.
Inspector 57
DeSantis: “Schools need to be teaching kids […] history.”
That hypocritical statement would be hilarious if this weren’t such an important subject.
What DeSantis MEANT was: “Florida schools should be indoctrinating students in our redacted, rewritten, perverted, erroneous version of history.”
BaltoSteve
Hmmm, the teacher asked why Timmy has two mom has to what? Get sued for answering a question that an inquisitive 7 year old has because a homophobic parent gets wind of the interaction? Have the ACLU file a suit in federal court for violating the teacher’s first amendment rights? (This is literally the government of Florida codifying what teachers can and cannot say in the classroom. The very Definition of a violation of free speech.). Should be very interesting.
James Hart
With a very conservative Supreme Court, the ACLU would lose such a case.
SamB
Balto: The teacher does not ask why a student has two moms. The teacher is not asking any kid in their class what their family consists of. Growing up I’ve never had a teacher ask me how many siblings I had or anything. The bill, as written, would mean this: Timmy says he has two moms. The teacher would say ok but encourage further dialogue at that point. The teacher would consult then the school would reach out to the parents and say “A student(s) have mentioned they have same sex parents. This is how we would like to proceed… let’s discuss”
BaltoSteve
James Hart, perhaps. However, I am unsure they would want to expand the governments role in curtailing the 1st amendment. In fact, within recent years they have expanded the who is protected by the 1st amendment and restricting the Government. And it was backed by some of the conservative justices still on the court.
Sam, you and I know real life doesn’t work that way. Kids find out about Timmy’s mom. Little Angela asks the teacher why. The teacher will say there are different kinds of families. Some with one parent, some with a dad and a mom. Some with two mom or two dads, and even some with two moms and two dads. And Angela should ask her parents about it when she gets home. Innocuous on the face, yes? Just a quick answer about family dynamics with a direction to talk with her parents No where is the word GAY spoken. It’s not part of the curriculum. It’s not part of the lesson plan. Just a teacher answering a child’s question. However, more rabid fundamentalists will file suit against the teacher and the school district for pushing the GAY AGENDA (le gasp) and teaching things in school that they shouldn’t. That is how our society operates. Litigate first, forget about asking questions.
[email protected]
First and foremost – parents do not get to dictate the curriculum in a public school WRONG Brad. The school system is paid for by tax dollars with elected school boards. Parents do have a right to the input of their child’s education. Why are people more concerned about schools teaching about sexual orientation than reading and writing. No wonder our children are so far behind other developed countries in education. Being pro-education does not make me anti gay. The comments in here are like when Biden declared to blacks “if you don’t vote for me then you ain’t black”. So I’m not gay unless I think it is the school’s job to teach PRMARY school children about sexual orientation. Rigodamndiculous
Cam
Except you’re lying. Just because my taxes pay for the police budget doesn’t mean I get to claim that laws don’t apply to me.
But I get it, you are just a sad Russian troll desperate to defend bigotry and hate.
armandov
But you act is if the mere existence of gay people or the word itself has impeded instruction and learning to kids all across Florida. There have been no incidents that precipitated this bill – and yet the GOP in FL acts as if every teacher across the state has been instructing kids how to engage in anal sex!
This bill is just as insane as drafting one that instructs hetero teachers not to speak about how many STDs they have or how many sexual partners they have had in their lifetime. Not needed and waste of time and energy! The irony is that this has caused such a furor that I’m sure kids of all ages have heard adults speak about this and now kids more than ever will be talking about all things gay. And sadly, they will learn at an early age that it truly is a love that not dare speak its name
cc423
No Jared Kullman, yon are a self loathing old queen who grew up when you’re were taught to be ashamed of yourself for being gay and this is the result of a that… just think about what life was like for yon waaaaaaaay back when you were in school… think about how you had to hide and lie your way through school just to survive. It’s time we leave old men and your twisted psychology behind. Your days are over old man Jared.
cuteguy
WTF is the matter with Florida that they voted this Nazi into office? Can we just eliminate this banana republic state from the US?
Kangol2
He barely won over the closeted Black bi dude. It was a close election, though sadly I can see DeSantis winning in a landslide if he runs for reelection, despite his numerous screw ups, especially if the Democrats don’t field a viable candidate.
armandov
SamB: You stated that “You can’t ban a bill because of what you “think” might happen.” and yet that is exactly what is happening here! This bill was created to solve a problem that doesn’t exist! There was no event or events that precipitated this. This bill was simply drafted as a FU to the LGBT community by the GOP to let the public know what the GOP thinks of them.
It was also crafted in a purposely vague way (E.g., “until the appropriate age” or until “Developmentally ready” What is the definition of that? 16 years old? 18?). Besides the insanity of passing this for no good reason, it is the hypocrisy of the party of limited Govt and personal freedom that refuses Govt “over reach ” of telling them to wear masks that wants to silence teachers and kids and restrict freedom of speech. Because of the vagueness and witch huntery of this bill, I’m sure a gay teacher he casually mentions his/her same sex partner to a colleague within earshot of a student will be on the chopping block.
tjack47
Some of you seem to be mighty fine with giving away your civil rights. The Establishment Clause is the basis for Separation of Church and State, not relationships and state, not human beings and state. Don’t say gay? Don’t say Mommy and Daddy. Girls and boys. Girlfriend and boyfriend. Your complacency and apathy are pathetic.
inbama
Sam is telling the truth – Cam is just repeating anti-gay talking points.
Secretly transing kids behind the backs of parents – as is done in Jersey, California, Chicago and liberal school districts – is a HUGE takeover of parental rights by the government.
That is the basis of this law.
Trans Activists named it “Don’t Say Gay” because, like all the overreach by trans activists, they don’t want their fingerprints on the actual cause.
Of course teachers should be free to honestly discuss sex, but keep two sets of books – one with the child’s “new name” and another with their supposedly “dead name” sent home to fool parents?
You really believe the school guidance counselor should be sending kindergarten kids to gender clinics for “affirmation therapy” and later for dangerous “puberty blockers” and parents not even told about it?
You really believe the American people are going to stand for this?
Are we gays and lesbians being swept up in the trans backlash?
Yep!
But shouldn’t gays and lesbian giving blind support to trans radicalism have expected it? When we warned you, you called us trolls. and you’re still believing lies, still spreading lies and calling us names.
“Troll” is your word for “gay” and for “gay rights first.”
Mack
Another SamB screen name supporting right wing bigots.
cc423
You are a sick and dangerous person.
inbama
@cc423
Telling the truth in some crowds can indeed be dangerous.
BaltoSteve
Well inbama, at least you and Sam will Never be accused of that.
dbmcvey
And yet, I’m sure the Log Cabin Republicans will still support him.
Invader7
DEATHsantis is another, of many, NeoNAZI FASCIST bully. He needs to go..
Consider This
The really scary part is DeSantis could end up with the R nomination for POTUS in 2024 and later win that office.
James Hart
He probably will win the Presidency in 2024.
BaltoSteve
There will be a heightened scrutiny of him if he runs for a National Office. Should be interesting what skeletons fall out and the PR dance to mitigate them.
BarryM
BaltoSteve:
You may be correct, but after the Republicans retake control of the House and Senate this November, you can expect Congressional hearings conducted into the Biden family’s deals in China and the Ukraine. This will give DeSantis – or any other Republican nominee for POTUS – plenty of ammunition against Joe in 2024.
Ambonec
So he says Science and History should be taught,
but only “spins” that meet his approval.
johncp56
Yaa let us go back to teaching them fairytales of the GOP side, and to the ones that say just being a good parent at this don’t say gay, are just hiding behind hate with a smile
ShiningSex
Florida is a sh*thole. Not shocking.
DeSantis probably gets d*ck on the side. Those who preach TOO loud…….
BarryM
I spend half my year in NYC and the other half in Miami. There is no state income tax in Florida, property taxes are relatively low, and everyone and his brother are moving here because of the low taxes, great weather, and low cost of living. Hence, it can’t be too much of a “sh*thole,” as you refer to it.
As far as DeSantis is concerned – and he will win the governor’s election in a landslide in November – I have no idea if he gets dick on the side – and who cares. Not me. Do you have the hots for him? Is that where this is coming from?
HMFan
Wow. Well, I certainly didn’t expect to wake up in the Middle Ages today…