Biden Blasts Joe Harding's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill

Biden Blasts Joe Harding's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill

Joe Harding responds to Biden backlash

Jim McCool
Jim McCool
|
February 10, 2022

Florida has paved the way recently for modern Conservatism in America.  Now, the most recent "Don't Say Gay Bill," proposed by Central Florida's State Rep. Joe Harding (R-22) has caught the attention of President Joe Biden (D), who blasted the legislation today.

Those who are rather socially progressive have been more than furious with the recent bills coming out of the Florida legislature, and signed into office by Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL).  Last year saw the effective banning of transgender individuals from women's sports, in the name of protecting female athletics.

Now, Rep. Harding's Don't Say Gay bill highlights the ongoing fight between parental rights in public education, and informing the youth of rather unorthodox topics for children.

Now, President Biden who has been credited by the media as having one of the most progressive presidencies ever, has weighed in on Harding's bill, calling it a, "hateful bill."

The White House released a statement, insisting that conservative Florida legislators at large are attacking, "LGBTQI+ kids," and, "make growing up harder for young people."  President Biden personally added on his own Twitter account today, "I want every member of the LGBTQI+ community — especially the kids who will be impacted by this hateful bill — to know that you are loved and accepted just as you are. I have your back, and my Administration will continue to fight for the protections and safety you deserve."

If the bills were to become law, they would give parents the right to sue school districts that violate their provisions.  Critics, who call the measures Florida’s “don’t say gay” bills, argue the measures are an attempt to weaponize the idea of parental rights.

The Floridian approached Rep. Harding at the Capitol this week to ask what he thinks of his bill attracting the President of the Unites States' attention.

"The president is commenting on it because he knows they will lose their elections.  We've already seen in Virginia and New Jersey, and all the indicators of what is coming in 2022 is a red landslide.  And we are going to win on a lot of issues, but the number is parental rights." said Rep.Harding. "So he is commenting because he knows come '22 he is going to get his butt kicked on parental rights.  We've seen this happen across the country and it is a place of fear."

Education has been at the forefront of Florida politics, paving the way for a multitude of issues.  2021 saw the banning of Critical Race Theory in public schools, something critics say is not even taught before graduate school.  However, the Florida legislature plans to revisit CRT this session.

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Jim McCool

Jim McCool

Jim is a graduate of Florida State University where he studied Political Science, Religion and Criminology. He has been a reporter for the Floridian since January of 2021 and will start law school in 2024.

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