Local after-school drag event canceled as DeSantis aims to expand Parental Rights in Education

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ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A Drag and Donuts Annual after-school event was canceled at Boone High School Wednesday.

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It comes amid a push to expand the Parental Rights in Education law that bans instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade.

However, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is looking to ban those lessons through fourth grade as well. The move wouldn’t require legislative approval.

READ: DeSantis moves to expand law critics call ‘Don’t Say Gay’ into high schools

The speaker of the event – Jason Deshazo, who goes by Momma Ashley Rose – said he was ready to talk to the students about love and acceptance, but woke up to messages advising he shouldn’t be there before, eventually, he was told the event was off.

“If a sports group invites a sports educator to come what’s wrong with a queer group inviting someone from the queer community,” Deshazo said. “I don’t really know what the exact next step is we’re going to figure that out.”

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The cancellation came after the district received a call from the Florida Department of Education.

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