Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is never one to let the facts get in the way of his latest bit of fear-mongering. The governor and possible presidential candidate tossed out another bit of rancid, Republican red meat, telling a crowd at a recent press conference that school teachers are “instructed to tell kids” to switch genders.
“This will be for elementary school kids where they are instructed to tell them, ‘Well you may have been born a boy that may have what you said, but maybe you're really a girl’. That is wrong. That has no place in schools,” DeSantis said. “That is happening in our country. Anyone that tells you it's not happening is lying to you."
The anti-LGBTQ governor was discussing his reason for implementing the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill in the state. The bill bars teaching on gender orientation and sexual identity in Florida public schools. It is part of a raft of laws in Florida targeting what can be taught in the state.
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) claims elementary school workers are "instructed to tell" kids to switch genders:
— The Recount (@therecount) July 27, 2022
"That is happening in our country. Anyone that tells you it's not happening is lying to you." pic.twitter.com/QSeBcYKL50
“I think what we did in Florida was very important to lay down a marker, to make sure that is not something that gains a foothold here in the state of Florida,” DeSantis said. “And again our kids are able to be kids.”
DeSantis' remarks are merely the latest example of the GOP's ongoing push against the existence of young queer people in Florida. Republican leaders have returned to earlier moral panics, attempting to paint LGBTQ people as pedophiles and "groomers." The dedication to the rhetoric has grown to such a point that school board candidates call for lynching of doctors who treat trans youths and legislators have proven willing to attack the formerly sacred calf of Disney for supporting the LGBTQ community.
