Florida Governor Ron DeSantis He chose a Christian school as his preparation for signing Wednesday bills that ban gender confirmation sponsorships for minors, restrict the use of pronouns in schools and force people to use the bathroom corresponding to their gender in some cases.
DeSantis made Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation A big part of his agenda as he heads toward a Republican presidential campaign. He signed the bills in front of a cheering crowd at Cambridge Christian School in Tampa. The party had a campaign-like feel, unlike when he signed measures on abortion and gun rights.
“It’s so sad that we even have some of these discussions,” DeSantis told the audience, standing behind a lectern with a sign reading “Let Kids Be Kids.”
He said the new laws would prevent the mutilation of minors, protect children from “sexually explicit” entertainment, and prevent the use of pronouns on students.
“We’ve never done this in all of human history until, what, two weeks ago? Now that’s a thing? Do they have third graders declaring pronouns? We’re not doing the Pronoun Olympics in Florida,” DeSantis said to applause.
Republican Rep. Randy Fine, who sponsored the ban on gender confirmation on minors’ custody, invoked his religion to defend the state’s actions.
He said, “God does not sin with our children.”
Democrats opposed the bills and LBTQ+ rallies were held at the Capitol During the session that ended two weeks ago, but Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers and bills moved easily through the legislative process.