Does Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill Outlaw the Word ‘Gay’?

Social media has been flooded with misinformation about the Parental Rights in Education bill in Florida, which critics derogatorily nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. Some have suggested that the bill, as the nickname suggests, literally outlaws the word “gay” in Florida.

The bill, which has passed both houses of the Florida legislature, prevents teachers from providing instruction on sexuality or gender identity to  children in grades K-3 “or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” While an earlier version of the bill said schools “may not encourage classroom discussion” involving sexual orientation and gender identity, the revised version that was approved by the state legislature prohibits only “instruction by school personnel or third parties.” The language in the earlier version of the bill raised concerns that it would prevent children with LGBT parents from discussing their family life or teachers from mentioning their spouses, leading to the revision that states the new limitation would apply only to instruction. The bill was revised February 23, 2022.