Story at a glance
- Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Rachel Levine on Thursday held a virtual meeting with students and families in Florida that will be affected by the state’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill should it be signed into law.
- Under the bill, classroom instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity would be heavily restricted. Parents would also be granted greater authority to take legal action against school districts believed to be in violation of the bill.
- Cardona and Levine on Thursday affirmed the administration’s support for the LGBTQ+ community.
Biden administration officials this week met virtually with students and families in Florida over the state’s Parental Rights in Education bill – known to its critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill – that was recently passed by the state legislature.
At a “listening and learning” roundtable on Thursday, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Rachel Levine heard from children and families in Florida about the impact the legislation, which seeks to prevent primary school educators from engaging in classroom instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity, will have on their communities.
Should the bill be signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), it will take effect July 1. Public school teachers of all grade levels would also be prohibited from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity in a manner that is not “age appropriate or developmentally appropriate” for their students.
On Thursday, Cardona and Levine, who is the first openly transgender person to hold an office requiring Senate confirmation, heard recommendations from Florida students and their families on how the federal government can better help LGBTQ+ young people in Florida and in other states where similar legislation is being considered.
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Mental health resources were also distributed to meeting attendees, according to a news release, and officials reaffirmed the administration’s support for the nation’s LGBTQ+ community.
“The Department and the Biden-Harris Administration stands with LGBTQI+ students and families in Florida and across the country. Laws around the country, including in Florida, have targeted and sought to bully some of our most vulnerable students and families, and create division in our schools,” Cardona said in a statement. “My message to you is that this Administration won’t stand for bullying or discrimination of any kind, and we will use our authorities to protect, support, and provide opportunities for LGBTQI+ students and all students.”
Cardona has been a vocal critic of the Florida bill, which he called “hateful” in a statement following its passage through the state legislature. He also accused state lawmakers of ignoring real issues like pandemic recovery, choosing instead to prioritize anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, and suggested that schools in enforcing “Don’t Say Gay” could be in violation of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on an individual’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
In a statement on Thursday, Levine said state and federal governments need to better support LGBTQ+ youth and their families to protect their health and ensure equitable representation.
“…that gives people a voice, a chance to effect change, to help people understand the diverse needs of our nation,” she said.
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