Equality Florida Responds to Passage of “Don’t Say Gay” Bill and “Stop WOKE Act” in the Florida House
Equality Florida Responds to Passage of “Don’t Say Gay” Bill and “Stop WOKE Act” in the Florida House
The bills are part of Governor DeSantis’ censorship and surveillance slate that seek to stigmatize and erase LGBTQ people and block honest discussions of civil rights in America
TALLAHASSEE, FL — Today, Republican legislators passed the “Don’t Say Gay” (HB 1557) and “Stop WOKE” (HB 7) bills off of the floor of the Florida House of Representatives. Equality Florida released this statement in response:
“Despite overwhelming public outrage, polling data underscoring immense unpopularity with voters, and hours of testimony from LGBTQ families, Republican legislators voted to pass the “Don’t Say Gay” bill and “Stop WOKE” Act in the Florida House. If signed into law, these bills will have disastrous impacts on classrooms and workplaces. They will turn Florida into a surveillance state and give the government broad license to censor conversations about American history, the origins of racism and injustice, and the existence of LGBTQ people.
The Florida Senate should choose not to take up this extreme legislation and turn Florida into a censorship and surveillance state.”
The harmful bill caused a number of Republicans to break ranks and vote the measure down. “This bill is so extreme that it inspired a rare rebellion within House GOP ranks as seven Republican lawmakers broke with leadership and opposed passage. Those voting NO include a teacher and a child welfare advocate demonstrating that those who work most closely with children and students understand how damaging this legislation truly is,” said Nadine Smith Executive Director of Equality Florida “The Florida Senate should follow their lead and reject this extreme legislation.”
House Republicans who voted against the "Don't Say Gay" bill are Rep. Mooney, Rep. Lamarca, Rep. Bussata Cabrera, Rep. Aloupis, Rep. Mariano, Rep. Plasencia, and Rep. Will Robinson.