GLSEN Condemns the Passage of Florida's "Don't Say Gay" Bill

March 28, 2022

GLSEN Condemns the Passage of Florida's "Don't Say Gay" Bill

“Governor Ron DeSantis and his followers in the state legislature are relentless in their harmful and blatant attacks on Florida’s LGBTQ+ young people. The ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill (HB 1557/SB 1834) is part of an ongoing campaign against LGBTQ+ communities led by Governor DeSantis that will silence supportive educators and erase LGBTQ+ communities from school curriculum.

“GLSEN National, GLSEN Collier County and GLSEN Tampa Bay condemn Governor DeSantis for signing HB 1557/SB 1834 into law and for erasing LGBTQ+ communities from classrooms the option to access supportive and affirming curriculum in school. This continuing pattern of openly targeting LGBTQ+ youth from Governor DeSantis includes ‘misinterpreting’ anti-bullying and harassment research to use as misinformation, banning trans athletes from competing in school sports, and erasing LGBTQ+ inclusive resources from the state’s Department of Education website.

“This latest attack has already had a chilling effect on LGBTQ+ youth, who already experience victimization such as bullying, harassment, and discrimination. The ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill is an exclusionary curriculum ban that deprives LGBTQ+ youth of the opportunity to see themselves reflected in the classroom and their non-LGBTQ+ peers from learning about LGBTQ+ communities. Based on more than 20 years of research conducted by GLSEN, LGBTQ+ youth who attend schools with inclusive curriculum have higher GPAs, a greater sense of belonging, are more likely to pursue post-secondary education, along with many other benefits that promote long-term wellbeing and achievement.

“We will continue to fight for positive representation and visibility of LGBTQ+ communities in all schools across the country and stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ youth in Florida.”

Melanie Willingham-Jaggers, Executive Director of GLSEN
Chris Kobzina, Co-Chair of GLSEN Collier County
Gregg Coldiron, Chair of GLSEN Tampa Bay