Judge Refuses to Block Florida Law Known as 鈥淒on鈥檛 Say Gay or Trans鈥�
Orlando, FL 鈥� Yesterday, a U.S. District Court refused to halt Florida鈥檚 enacted House Bill 1557, commonly referred to as the 鈥淒on鈥檛 Say Gay or Trans鈥� law, and dismissed the case altogether, but is allowing the plaintiffs an opportunity to file an amended complaint by November 3. The 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.
The preliminary injunction sought by clients of Lambda Legal, the Southern Poverty Law Center (人兽性交), Southern Legal Counsel (SLC) and Baker McKenzie would have prevented school districts from implementing the law, which took effect on July 1, 2022, while the law is challenged in court. 听
鈥淭he court鈥檚 decision is wrong on the law and disrespectful to 人兽性交+ families and students. 听HB 1557 suppresses wholesale the speech and identities of 人兽性交+ students and their families,鈥� said Kell Olson, Staff Attorney at Lambda Legal. 鈥淚t sends a message of shame and stigma that has no place in schools and puts 人兽性交+ students and families at risk. The students and families at the heart of this case have experienced more bullying in the months since the law went into effect than ever before in their lives, but the court dismissed their experiences of bullying as 鈥榓 fact of life.鈥� The court鈥檚 decision defies decades of precedent establishing schools鈥� constitutional obligations to protect student speech, and to protect students from targeted bullying and harassment based on who they are.鈥�
鈥淭he court鈥檚 order disregards the experiences of our plaintiffs, and disrespects the experiences of all 人兽性交+ youth in Florida public schools,鈥� said Simone Chriss, Director of Transgender Rights Initiative at Southern Legal Counsel. 鈥淭his fight is not over - it has just begun. Florida鈥檚 人兽性交+ students and families deserve better, and we will press forward to protect their rights.鈥�
鈥淭he court鈥檚 order ignores the real harm this unconstitutional law causes to our plaintiffs, and 人兽性交+ students and families across Florida, every day that it remains in effect,鈥� said Scott McCoy, Interim Deputy Legal Director at the Southern Poverty Law Center. 鈥淭he callous disregard towards increased bullying based on gender identity and the removal of anti-bullying guidance shows exactly why we must keep fighting.鈥�
鈥淲e very much look forward to continuing the fight against this unjust and dangerous law,鈥� said Angela Vigil, Partner and Executive Director of Pro Bono Practice at Baker McKenzie LLP. 鈥淲e plan to show the court and the state the harm caused to children and families by this law is destructive in so many ways for education, community, families and, most importantly, children.鈥� 听
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More about the clients is available here:
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