ATWhile the issues of gender identity and sexual orientation are increasingly addressed in schools around the world, in the United States, some states are still putting the brakes on. This is particularly the case in Florida, where Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has just signed a law prohibiting the teaching of these subjects in elementary school. The text comes into force from July 1. According to many observers, this decision could harm the LGBT community.
“We are going to make sure that parents can send their children to school so that they learn, not so that they are indoctrinated”, launched the governor before affixing his signature. The text applies from kindergarten to pupils aged eight or nine.
Angry Democrats and LGBT Activists
Opposition Democrats and LGBT rights activists tried to block the law they dubbed “Don’t Say Gay” and which caused a stir in the United States . The controversy even sparked protests among employees of the entertainment giant Disney, who were accused of “apathy” after the law was passed.
The company, which notably employs more than 75,000 people at its Disney World theme park in Orlando, condemned the law’s approval in a statement on Monday. The NGO Equality Florida accused the governor of “damaging our state’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive place for all families.” “He made us the laughingstock of everyone nationally. Worse, it has made schools less safe for children,” the organization said in a statement.