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DC AG leads coalition challenging Florida education law

Karl Racine is working with 18 other attorneys general to challenge a controversial bill banning discussion of LGBTQ topics in certain grades.

WASHINGTON — D.C.'s outgoing Attorney General partnered with 18 other attorneys general to oppose Florida's "Parental Rights in Education." The controversial bill, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in March, prohibits classroom instruction in certain grades around sexual orientation or gender identity topics. 

Led by Karl Racine, the coalition of attorneys general filed a brief Friday alleging the law, which is referred to as the "Don't Say Gay" law by opponents, poses a threat to LGBTQ+ students. 

The law bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity altogether in kindergarten through third grade, and required the state education agency to write new standards to be followed in fourth through 12th grade classes. 

"But the law does not define many of its key terms, like “classroom instruction, so Florida teachers are already censoring themselves out of fear of the law," the coalition claims. "Indeed, the law allows a parent to bring a civil claim against a school district to enforce its vague prohibitions." 

The coalition uses two main arguments to support their point: 

  1. Florida’s law is unconstitutional.
  2. The law is causing significant harms to students, parents, teachers, and other states

“My office has a strong track record of fighting for LGBTQ+ rights in the District and across the country to make sure that everyone can simply be who they are and love who they love,” Racine said. “Florida’s law offers no benefit to anyone and in fact puts children and families in harm’s way. We will continue to use all of our authority to help strike down this law and any other hateful, discriminatory policies that threaten people’s fundamental freedoms.”

The other AGs joining the coalition are from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington.

A lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the law l was filed in federal court in March. 

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