The Biden administration said Friday it will monitor a new Florida law that restricts instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools.
In a statement, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre encouraged students and parents to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education鈥檚 Office for Civil Rights if they think they face discrimination.
The law (), which has drawn nationwide attention, prevents instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade and requires that such instruction be 鈥渁ge-appropriate 鈥� in accordance with state academic standards鈥� in older grades.
Republican lawmakers titled the measure the 鈥淧arental Rights in Education鈥� bill. Opponents labeled it the 鈥淒on鈥檛 Say Gay鈥� bill. The law took effect Friday.
鈥淭his is not an issue of 鈥榩arents鈥� rights,鈥欌�� Jean-Pierre said in the statement. 鈥淭his is discrimination, plain and simple. It鈥檚 part of a disturbing and dangerous nationwide trend of right-wing politicians cynically targeting LGBTQI+ students, educators, and individuals to score political points. It encourages bullying and threatens students鈥� mental health, physical safety and well-being. It censors dedicated teachers and educators who want to do the right thing and support their students.鈥�
Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republican supporters of the bill have disputed the 鈥淒on鈥檛 Say Gay鈥� moniker and allegations that it is discriminatory.
鈥淔ar from banning discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity, the legislation expressly allows age- and developmentally appropriate education on those subjects,鈥� attorneys for the state wrote in a court filing this week in a case challenging the law.
鈥淐onsistent with that modest limitation, the law prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for the youngest children, neutrally allowing all parents, no matter their views, to introduce those sensitive topics to their children as they see fit.鈥�
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