Lawyers representing a group of parents, students, and a non-profit organization have filed a motion to halt Florida school districts from implementing the legislation passed in March.
The motion contends that the Republican-backed law “was enacted with the purpose to discriminate and has the effect of discriminating against LGBTQ+ students and those with LGBTQ+ family members.”
According to The Orlando Sentinel, the preliminary injunction was filed as part of a July lawsuit against the school boards in Orange, Indian River, Duval, and Palm Beach counties. It alleges violations of speech, equal protection, and due process rights. The motion reads:
“HB 1557, by design, deters speech by and about lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning people in schools. To achieve this end, the law employs undefined terms that restrict an absurdly broad scope of speech and activity, casting a broad chilling effect and leaving school officials to draw arbitrary and discriminatory lines in their attempts to implement the law.”
Credit: Disney Parks Blog
The Parental Rights in Education Act “prohibits any instruction about sexuality or gender between kindergarten and third grade, or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards,” according to NPR.
The Walt Disney Company has found itself at the heart of controversy around the “Don’t Say Gay” law. In February, fans and Disney Cast Members led protests around the country after public records revealed that Disney had donated to many politicians who sponsored the bill.
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Credit: Disney
