After many months of gaining controversial attention, the transgender female sports ban (SB 1028) has officially been signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, which many Florida Democrats like Senator Shevrin Jones (D-35) have labeled a "hate-driven attack on LGBTQ+ Community."
The law bans transgender youths from participating in women's and girl's sports, which proponents of the bill have denied the assertion by Sen. Jones and others that the law is homophobic in nature, and say it protects girls from the unfair advantages of transitioned females.
Today, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed the bill, triggering a slew of responses from Florida Democrats, and garnering opposition nationwide.
“We believe that the integrity of those competitions are preserved. That these opportunities are protected. And I can tell you this, in Florida girls are going to play girls sports and boys are going to play boys sports. That is what we are doing and we’re going to make sure that that is a reality,” DeSantis said.
State Senator Jones issued a statement this morning, claiming the bill was:
"This is yet another hate-driven attack from the Governor and Republican legislators, and it’s insulting that they’ve staged this morning’s photo opp on the first day of Pride Month. At the end of the day, transgender kids are just kids. They need to be heard, trusted, and supported, and this law will deny kids across the state critical life lessons including teamwork, dedication, and how to lose with grace and win with humility. Most people don't know what it's like to be transgender or to be the parent of a transgender child, but we should all be able to agree that every Florida child deserves needs love and support, not aimless attacks from the legislature."
Other prominent Florida Democrats such as Commissioner of Agriculture and gubernatorial hopeful Nikki Fried (D-FL) responded to the signing, calling it "a heartless ban on transgender kids in sports," accusing DeSantis of "marginalizing an entire community."
Commissioner Fried adds to her long history of criticizing legislation approved by DeSantis, previously commenting that FL GOP voter fraud protections were modern-day "Jim Crow Laws."
Fried also takes offense to the signing of the bill taking place today, on June 1st, the first day of Pride Month. Fried added that Florida "should stand for inclusivity, equality, and liberty - not peddling hate for political points."
Fried is not the only elected official taking issue with DeSantis signing the bill on the first day of Pride month, as Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D), an openly gay state representative from Orlando, brought up the same issue on Twitter.
Transphobia is the new homophobia. #LetKidsPlay
— Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) June 1, 2021
