First lawsuit filed against DeSantis, Florida over bill critics call ‘Don’t Say Gay’

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — They said they would and they did.

The first lawsuit is now filed against the Parents Right in Education Bill signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis this week. It’s the law opponents call “Don’t Say Gay.”

Civil rights groups, including LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Florida, joined the National Center for Lesbian Rights and families in Florida in filing suit against the state of Florida on Thursday.

Among the individual plaintiffs are a Miami rabbi and her partner.

The 80-page lawsuit alleges that the new law is an unconstitutional effort to erase LGBTQ students and families from public schools. Equality Florida issued a statement calling DeSantis’ law “cruel” and saying it is “meant to isolate, stigmatize, and erase LGBTQ families.”

The challenge filed in federal court in Tallahassee contends that the law violates the First Amendment and other provisions of the U.S. Constitution.

The bill is HB1557, the Parental Rights in Education, among other stipulations prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels.

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Glenna Milberg

Glenna Milberg

Emmy award-winning journalist Glenna Milberg joined Local 10 News in September 1999. She hosts "This Week in South Florida", South Florida’s highest-rated, most-watched public affairs program, anchors Local 10 World News Weekends, and covers South Florida's top stories and big issues for Local 10 News.

Michelle Solomon

Michelle F. Solomon

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