Surrounded by elementary school students and parents, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a highly controversial law into law. It was passed by the parliament of the conservative-governed state just over three weeks ago. It affects children from kindergarten through third grade. The law, dubbed “don’t say gay” by its critics, prohibits teaching regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in a way that is not age- or development-appropriate. Exactly what that means is debatable. “And so we will continue to recognize that in the state of Florida, parents play a fundamental role in the upbringing, health care and well-being of their children. We will not back down from that. I don’t care what the media says. I don’t care what Hollywood says. I don’t care what the big corporations say. I stand here, I won’t back down.” In the USA, the latest law by the Republicans in Florida triggered massive outrage, even in the White House. From the point of view of the critics, it is formulated in such a way that the ban on certain teaching content can also be applied to older children. US President Joe Biden described the new regulation as “hateful”, as the “New York Times” reports. Employees at the Disney film production company, one of Florida’s largest employers, went on strike to protest the law. The company released a statement condemning the new law.
