DeSantis Diversity and Gender Bills Pass Florida Committees

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Republicans on Monday launched two key initiatives from Gov. Ron DeSantis as he prepares for the expected presidential race — banning gender-affirming juvenile care and canceling college diversity programs.

The proposals have been approved by individual committees but are yet to be approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate.

DeSantis is pursuing an aggressive conservative agenda on race, gender, and education, ahead of the expected candidacy while maintaining the stance that has made him one of the most popular Republicans in the nation.

The Republican overwhelming majority in the statehouse intends to approve virtually all of DeSantis’ priorities during this year’s legislative session, providing the governor with a platform of political wins that could prove popular during the GOP primary.

The Governor has been a leading critic of college diversity, equity and inclusion programs known as DEI, as well as critical race theory, which is a way of thinking about American history through a racist lens.

Ahead of Monday’s committee vote, DeSantis held a roundtable discussion to criticize diversity programs as racially divisive and discriminatory. He has frequently criticized programs for what he calls the “awakening” ideology in education.

“In Florida, we’re not going to back down from the wake-up crowd, and we’re going to expose the scam they’re trying to push on students across the country,” DeSantis said. “Florida students will get an education, not a political ideology.”

The proposal prohibits colleges from using state or federal funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. This would prevent schools from having curricula for courses that include critical race theory or so-called radical feminist theory, radical gender theory, queer theory, critical social justice or intersectionality.

In addition, universities will be able, at any time, for good reason, to review faculty after the end of their tenure, in addition to the mandatory review every five years.

Critics said the bill would disadvantage college students when they seek employment after graduation, could jeopardize the accreditation of Florida courses, and stifle academic freedom on campuses.

“The state is not obliged to determine or dictate what we can or cannot study. This is our choice, especially as adults in higher education,” said Rep. Anna Escamani, a Democrat. Why are we afraid of these topics? Why don’t we want adults like me in public universities who choose to study these theories to have the opportunity to learn about it, question it, and discuss it?”

Scholars developed critical racial theory in the 1970s and 1980s in response to what scholars saw as a lack of racial progress following the passage of civil rights legislation in the 1960s. The theory is based on the idea that racism is a systemic phenomenon in national institutions that serve to maintain the dominance of white people in society.

Last year, the governor signed into law a law dubbed the Stop WOKE Act that restricts certain racially motivated speech and analysis in schools and businesses. The law prohibits regulations that say members of one race are inherently racist or should feel guilty about past actions committed by others of the same race, among other things.

Dozens of transgender people, parents of transgender children and their supporters gathered in the Senate committee room to oppose a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors.

Opponents have said that this will lead to higher rates of suicide, depression and anxiety, and will do much more harm than good.

Democratic lawmakers said their Republican counterparts support government intervention in families’ private conversations with their doctors and deny those families the right to care for their children.

Democratic Senator Tracey Davis addressed her remarks to people who testified against the bill.

“What we did today with this legislation is vilify you,” Davis said. “There are children who think they are better off dead for lack of support, and all you said today is to say, “Love.” I am who I am”.

Republican Senator Clay Yarborough said his bill is about child protection and told opponents he respects them.

“Each person has been created with extraordinary value, incredible value, and a unique purpose from the moment they were created. You can’t change that,” Yarborough said. “We must allow children to be children, and our laws must establish appropriate boundaries that respect the rights and responsibilities of parents while protecting children.”

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