The bill prohibits teachers from educating students on topics including sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. HB 1557 also outlines that any instruction on these issues cannot occur “in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards,” ABC News reports.

“We will make sure that parents can send their kids to school to get an education, not an indoctrination,” the governor said before he signed the bill, according to ABC News.

The bill goes into effect on July 1 and will allow parents to sue their school district if they violate the restrictions.

Parents will also have the authority to decline the mental, emotional and physical health services that their child’s school provides. The schools must inform parents if their child uses the school’s health services unless it is determined “that disclosure would subject the student to abuse, abandonment or neglect,” ABC News reports.

The legislation will require the Florida Department of Education to revamp its standards to comply with new requirements.

“If you think that a parent sending their kid to first grade should have the gender bread man in there talking about being a different gender, say that and try to make the case for it, but just be honest about where you’re coming from,” DeSantis said, according to The Hill.

“This is trying to sow doubt about kids about their gender identity. It’s trying to say that you know, they can be whatever they want to be. This is inappropriate for kindergarteners and first graders and second graders. Parents do not want this going on in their schools,” he continued.

“I think the last couple years have really revealed to parents that they are being ignored increasingly across our country when it comes to their kids’ education. We have seen curriculum embedded for very, very young children, classroom materials about sexuality and woke gender ideology. We’ve seen libraries that have clearly inappropriate pornographic materials for very young kids,” DeSantis said, according to ABC News.

Critics of the bill say that it removes LGBTQ+ content and discourse from classrooms, and that it will result in preventing LGBTQ+ youth from being represented and included in learning environments, according to ABC News.

“Let us be clear: Should its vague language be interpreted in any way that causes harm to a single child, teacher or family, we will lead legal action against the State of Florida to challenge this bigoted legislation,” local LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Florida said in a statement, ABC News reports.

“It is a sad day in Florida. Make no mistake, by signing the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, Ron DeSantis is taking the side of hatred, bullying and discrimination and sending a clear message to children in Florida that he doesn’t care about them or their families if he can use their pain to score political points with his base,” Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz said, according to ABC News. “Florida’s families deserve leaders who will stand up for them and give them the freedom to be proud of who they are.”

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