Florida Education Board Expands Ban on Gender and Sexual Orientation Instruction in Public Schools

The Florida education board has extended a ban on classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation to all public school grades, including grades four through 12, unless the instruction is required by state standards or is part of a health class that parents can opt their children out of. The move is part of a broader rightward push on cultural issues championed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president in 2024. Critics say the law would marginalize already-vulnerable LGBTQ students.