For Immediate Release: March 9, 2022
Contact: Ryan Hite, Communications Director
House Bill 1557, Barring Gender Ideology In K-3 Classrooms, Goes to Gov. DeSantis
Washington, D.C.: “Florida’s Senate has passed a wonderful piece of legislation that puts parents in the driver’s seat of their kids’ education,” said Ed Martin, president of Phyllis Schlafly Eagles. “House Bill 1557, the Parental Rights in Education Bill, would ban the teaching of gender identity and sexual orientation in pre-k through third-grade classrooms. The bill also gives parents recourse to sue school districts if teachers violate the policy. Now the bill heads to Governor Ron DeSantis’s desk to be signed into law.”
“This bill is truly a win-win-win for Florida,” Martin continued. “Not only does it stop the indoctrination of kindergarteners and put parents back in control, but it gives Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature ample opportunity to shut down the fear-mongering of fake news.
“Everything about this law points to one goal: giving parents decision-making authority over their young children’s education. The left reached fever pitch over this bill, ridiculously railing against it as the ‘don’t say gay’ law. Following suit, both the White House and federal Department of Education have threatened Florida over the soon-to-be law. They declared it ‘hateful’ and likely in violation of Title IX’s discrimination protections, which have now (no thanks to the Supreme Court) been warped to include sexual orientation and gender identity.”
Martin concluded, “The left may light their hair on fire and pretend that this bill ushers in the educational apocalypse, but the reality is that Florida’s legislature is putting Florida families first. Students are best protected and cared for by their parents, not education bureaucrats. Good for Florida’s legislature in passing this, and good for Gov. DeSantis for standing up for it. Parents need our elected leaders to fight for their rights! The government does not and never will own our children.”
###
