Florida Teacher Investigated for Showing Disney Movie with Gay Character to 5th Grade Class

A fifth-grade teacher in Florida is under investigation by the state Department of Education for showing her students the 2022 animated Disney movie "Strange World," which features a biracial and gay character. The teacher had previously obtained permission slips from all parents, but a complaint was made by a parent who is also a member of the Hernando County School District Board. The incident is part of Florida's controversial legislation banning certain instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom. The teacher claims the movie was tied to the current lesson plan of the environment and ecosystems and was not sexual in nature.