The Florida governor has signed a bill restricting LGBTQ instruction in schools

March 28 (Reuters) – Florida Govt.

The law, referred to by its opponents as the “Do Not Tell Homosexuals” Bill, has sparked national controversy and drew attention during the Oscars, which aired Sunday, amid a discriminatory debate about what schools should teach children about race and gender.

Properly known as the “Parent Rights in Education” Bill, it prevents classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for children in public schools from third grade or 5-9 years of age in a Florida kindergarten.

It also prohibits teaching to students in other classes, such as “not age-appropriate or developmental.”

Under the law, which comes into force on July 1, parents will be allowed to sue school districts they believe are in breach.

“In the state of Florida, we continue to recognize that parents have a fundamental role to play in the education, health and well-being of their children,” Desantis told reporters Monday. “I do not care what the big companies say. I’m standing here. I’m not backing down.”

Desantis, who looks forward to re-election this year and is widely expected to run for president in 2024, has joined other Republicans across the country in calling for greater control over what young children learn in school.

The Republican governor signed into law at a charter school in Spring Hill, north of Tampa, where young school children and parents surrounded themselves and shared personal stories they told they needed the new law.

Students across Florida have protested the move, and President Joe Biden has previously called it “disgusting.”

Oscar organizers cited the bill, while Best Actress winner Jessica Chastain condemned the “discriminatory and racist” law across the country in her acceptance speech.

After Disantis signed the bill on Monday, Walt Disney Co. (DIS.N) The spokesman said the law “should never have been passed and should not have been signed into law. Our goal as an institution is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or suspended in the courts.”

Walt Disney World is the largest theme park in Orlando, Florida. Its vast businesses include movie studios, broadcast and cable television networks, streaming services, shipping and retail products.

The civil rights group Lampta said it would challenge the law in legal court. “Our youth are not political soldiers,” CEO Kevin Jennings said in a statement.

The law was criticized for the ambiguity and complexity of some of its languages. For example, it states that even the discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation is prohibited “within certain standards or in a particular way.”

The Florida Education Association, a teachers’ union, called it a “political stunt” that could lead to legal challenges.

Report by Maria Caspani; Editing: Colin Jenkins, Cynthia Asterman and Mark Porter

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