ORLANDO, Fla. — Shortly after the Florida Senate passed the controversial “Parental Rights in Education” bill on Tuesday afternoon reaction from lawmakers began pouring in on social media.
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State Sen. Dennis Baxley, who sponsored the bill, thanked his fellow senators for helping to “ensure that parental rights do not end at the classroom door.”
HB 1557/Parental Rights in Education passes! Thank you, Senators, for your vote to ensure that parental rights do not end at the classroom door. We will always be on the side of parents and they should be empowered take responsibility for their children.
— Sen. Dennis Baxley (@dennisbaxley) March 8, 2022
Read: Florida Senate passes controversial Parental Rights in Education bill
Not all reactions to the bill’s passage were positive, however.
A tweet from the official White House account said the bill was “designed to attack LGBTQI+ kids.”
Today, conservative politicians in Florida advanced legislation designed to attack LGBTQI+ kids. Instead of making growing up harder for young people, @POTUS is focused on keeping schools open and supporting students' mental health.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 8, 2022
https://t.co/nn6nx8lLDD
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said Florida lawmakers “are prioritizing hateful bills that hurt some of the students most in need.”
Leaders in Florida have decided that bills based on hate & discrimination take priority over our students' pandemic recovery. My team & I stand with our LGBTQ+ students in Florida & across the country & urge Florida leaders to protect & support all students.
— Secretary Miguel Cardona (@SecCardona) March 8, 2022
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried, who is running for Florida governor, called the bill an “international embarrassment.”
My statement on the passage of the #DontSayGay bill. My heart breaks for Florida’s LGBTQ community today. Please know that we will never stop fighting for a better world for you. pic.twitter.com/1fx0JPkIrE
— Commissioner Nikki Fried (@NikkiFriedFL) March 8, 2022
Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani said it is a “sad and scary moment for Floridians, especially our LGBTQ+ kids and their families.”
Sad and scary moment for Floridians, especially our LGBTQ+ kids and their families. The #DontSayGay bill has just passed and goes to the Governor’s desk.
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani 🔨 (@AnnaForFlorida) March 8, 2022
Keep up the fight — don’t give up and please remember that you are not alone. https://t.co/VOxDrmzyoO
The measure prohibits students in kindergarten through third grade from being taught about sexual orientation and gender identity.
The bill will now go to the governor’s desk for his signature.
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