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Friend, On July 1, 2022, House Bill 1557, commonly referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, went into effect in Florida. This law bans discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3 and restricts such discussions for students through grade 12 based on undefined standards of appropriateness. It also gives any parent the legal power to sue districts they believe are violating the law. The law silences LGBTQ students and families, shames and stigmatizes them, restricts their ability to access life-saving information and creates a climate of bigotry in schools. All of us, and our democracy, are irreparably harmed when people, and especially children, are relegated, made invisible, and targeted for who they are or who they love. This hateful law cannot stand – so we sued. On behalf of seven students and their parents, as well as CenterLink Inc., a nonprofit LGBTQ advocacy organization based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the SPLC and co-counsel challenged the constitutionality of the law in a federal lawsuit against school districts in Orange, Indian River, Duval and Palm Beach counties. The suit argues that the law violates the right to free speech and expression protected by the First Amendment and that it violates the due process clause of the 14th Amendment, as well as the amendment’s guarantee of equal protection under the law. Jennifer and Matthew Cousins joined the suit as plaintiffs on behalf of their four children in Orange County. “This law will prevent our two youngest children, rising first and third graders, from discussing their older nonbinary sibling in the classroom for fear of their teacher or their school getting in trouble,” the couple said in a joint statement. “The law also robs them of the opportunity of discussing their family like other non-LGBTQ+ children. It’s heartbreaking to know that my children may be bullied because this law paints our family as shameful. Every child deserves the right to celebrate their family in the form that it exists.” In solidarity, Your friends at the Southern Poverty Law Center
Friend, will you make a gift to help the SPLC fight for justice and equity in courts and combat white supremacy?
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