DeSantis Settles with Liberals on LGBT Education

What’s happening: Parents, students, teachers, advocacy groups, and the state of Florida came to a settlement agreement clarifying what the Parental Rights in Education Act — dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by liberals and the media — allows and prohibits in the classroom.

Catch up: Last year, Flordia Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation prohibiting “instruction” on gender identity and sexual orientation in K-12 schools.

• The problem: When the law was passed, some argued it was too vague and were worried that the directive against “instruction” could be interpreted to mean that even mentioning LGBT people was prohibited — though the bill wasn’t designed for that. The media labeled it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Now: The recent settlement clarifies that formal instruction regarding gender identity and sexual orientation is prohibited.

• However: The settlement may allow activist teachers to teach gender identity if it’s part of “class discussion.”

• What is allowed: The law will not bar: teachers from mentioning LGBT people, classes from having discussions about LGBT issues, libraries from carrying books on the topic, or schools from hosting LGBT student clubs.

Win for liberals? Liberal plaintiffs and the DeSantis administration both framed the settlement as a win. The plaintiffs argued it would prevent discrimination against and erasure of LGBT people in Florida schools.

• From DeSantis: The DeSantis administration said fears were based on willful misinterpretation of the law, and that the settlement demonstrated it was always good policy.