Equality Florida Responds to Weaponizing of Florida Department of Education Against Nondiscrimination Protections

Equality Florida Responds to Weaponizing of Florida Department of Education Against Nondiscrimination Protections

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Today, Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz issued a memo disregarding Title IX protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the latest in the weaponizing of state agencies by the DeSantis Administration against LGBTQ Floridians. Equality Florida issued the following statement in response:

While Governor DeSantis and Commissioner Diaz are intent on weaponizing state agencies in their war on transgender youth, the fact remains: the US Department of Education has said unequivocally that students are to be protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The DeSantis Administration repeatedly puts the political ambitions of the Governor over the wellbeing of Florida's students and the result is a state that is increasingly more hostile toward and unsafe for young people. LGBTQ students exist. The federal government has recognized that they are protected from discrimination. Even as the Governor attempts to bolster his right-wing bonafides by hurtling our state toward full-tilt authoritarianism, school districts across Florida should remain committed to protecting all students.

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Equality Florida is the largest civil rights organization dedicated to securing full equality for Florida’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community. Through education, grassroots organizing, coalition building, and lobbying, we are changing Florida so that no one suffers harassment or discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity.