Florida Law Prohibits 18-Year-Olds From Talking About Sexual Orientation

The Florida Department of Education has expanded a law to ban teaching education on sexual orientation and gender identity to students through 12th grade.

The newly expanded law comes from a rule change to the Parental Rights in Education law, which previously banned lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity for students in kindergarten through third grade.

The development, which was approved by the Florida Board of Education, is expected to worsen already tense relations between Governor Ron DeSantis and his critics, including Disney, who refer to the law as the “Don’t Say Gay” law.

The law is one of several conservative-driven policies backed by DeSantis, including removing books from schools that are not on an approved reading list until they are reviewed by an employee with a media specialist certificate.

The law will take effect once a procedural notice period ends in a month.

LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Florida has called the law a “despicable escalation” of DeSantis’ “assault on freedom” and has announced a travel advisory for the state because of recent laws that make it “hostile” for LGBTQ+ individuals.