The "Don't Say Gay" bill (HB 1557/SB 1834) has passed its first Florida House Committee.

[RKP5637]

They might be coming for others, something different, the footholds of fascism!!! People like DeSantis are dangerous as hell.

https://www.eqfl.org/florida-dont-say-gay-bill

This dangerous bill — sponsored by Representative Joe Harding and Senator Dennis Baxley — blocks teachers from talking about LGBTQ issues or people and undermines existing protections for LGBTQ kids in schools.

This legislation is meant to stigmatize LGBTQ people, isolate LGBTQ kids, and make teachers fearful of providing a safe, inclusive classroom. The existence of LGBTQ students and parents is not a taboo topic that has to be regulated by the Florida Legislature.

... the “Don’t Say Gay” bill is a part of DeSantis’ surveillance state slate — a divisive and dehumanizing roster of bills that has the government interfering in our most personal decisions and seeks to ban honest conversations about race, gender identity, and sexual orientation. He’s using it as a launching pad for his presidential ambitions, even if it puts our youngest and most vulnerable at risk.

HB 1557 only has one committee left in the House of Representatives before it moves to the floor for a full vote.

This is just another way for Governor DeSantis to score political points with extremists as he positions himself to be the GOP presidential candidate. But for our community, this bill will have devastating real-world consequences — especially for LGBTQ youth who already experience higher rates of bullying and suicide. Lawmakers should be providing more support for these students instead of trying to force LGBTQ people back into the closet by policing identity or stopping kids from talking about their same-sex parents.

[Harker]

1. I feel for good Floridians that are under siege.

The blows just don't stop.

[Walleye]

2. Big man. Picks on small group of vulnerable kids.I guess it makes them feel powerful

Or do they think they can “cure” homosexuality. And ignoring racism makes it go away. Can’t believe these people are in education

[RKP5637]

5. The guy just looks like such a bullying thug!!! And his actions speak louder! n/t

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. There is a place for people like DeSantis....it is called HELL

So-called devout Christians worry about their immortal souls burning in the fires of Hell. Perhaps they need reminding that Jesus sees and hears all from them when they go against His teachings, as DeSantis is doing.

[RKP5637]

7. Hell, is certainly a most fitting place for creeps like DeSantis. n/t

[walkingman]

4. Usually when someone makes a big deal about someone else's

sexuality they are projecting their own sexual insecurities. IOW, they are fucked up. I base this on my life experience.

[RKP5637]

6. Absolutely true, he doth protest too much, Psychological Projection. Don't look

at me, look at them over there, it's them, not me ... see, I'm clean!

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

8. These RW whackos...

are so overplaying their hand, all over the country. These types of stunts are going to cut their so called takeover very short.

[RKP5637]

10. I certainly hope so. People must be getting really tired of their BS, and I hope their hero trump

gets raked over the coals by the courts and justice.

[spanone]

9. desantis is a piece of rancid dung.

at best

[RKP5637]

11. You're far too nice!!! n/t

[DBoon]

12. Sure he wants freedom...

... the freedom for bigoted gay-hating parents to beat the crap out of their gay children.

[RKP5637]

19. Always interesting how these critters define freedom. Freedom to them means

being able to bash others with no impunity for them as the persecutors.

[Deuxcents]

13. I have called him Napoleon for months now

Some of my friends said, o..you don’t mean that. Now, they’re squawking, too. He’s got to go.

[RKP5637]

18. He absolutely is a little tin dictator!!! The guy is outrageous. He would finish off what trump

started. Dangerous as hell, all the makings of a dictator. Imagine him with power as a president. And he is smart.

[Deuxcents]

20. Agree..

He will have learned lessons well from tfg n expand on them. Florida is his testing ground n he has a r legislature rubber stamping his bills. I have whined n squawked here n to my family n friends.. I’m watching this with eyes wide open n I feel anger n hopelessness. I’m gonna get with my friends I worked with in the last election..we walked two districts n I’ll walk more. Not going w/o a fight.

[Demovictory9]

14. insanity

[Dirty Socialist]

15. The Florida GOP has sucked for years

Nothing new here.

[Solly Mack]

16. K&R

[maxrandb]

17. Gee, if only we could figure out which Florida based corporations

Fund these Retrumplican fascists.

I am sure they will express outrage...as they write another check.

[smirkymonkey]

21. WTF is going on in this country?

Every day, I get up and something sicker and more outrageous has occurred, courtesy of members of the republican party. And they haven't even taken over yet.

Can you imagine how bad this will get when they do? And I am convinced that they will let nothing get in their way. We are going to need some kind of deus ex machina kind of miracle to stop them, because even it we outvote them, they aren't going to allow our victories to stand.

[RKP5637]

22. Same here ... I had written a response, but then lost it during compose. Tired fingers!

I agree with all you say ... it has really become bizarre and f'ed up. The GOP agenda is not one of improvement for a better society, but rather one of destruction and riches devoured by the few and major power by a dominate party.