Eskamani Calls Parental Rights Bill '100%' Homophobic

The controversial CS/HB 1557 - Parental Rights in Education, or the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Joe Harding, and cosponsored by Reps. David Borrero, Chris Latvala, and Randy Maggard have deepened the divide between Republican and Democratic legislators in the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature.

Rep. Harding’s bill adds to Parent’s Bill of Rights Republican lawmakers passed during the 2021 legislative session, and Gov. DeSantis signed it into law.

But just as Democratic legislators pushed back against that measure during the last year’s legislative session, HB 1557 has all but caused Progressive Democrats like Rep. Anna Eskamani to revert to using ‘shock and awe’ verbiage to express their disdain and dissatisfaction with the legislation.

“Wow, a lot of homophobia and transphobia during the #DontSayGay bill hearing. I’m not surprised by it since that’s 100% what the bill is,” stated Rep. Eskamani.

Rep. Eskamani’s assertion that the bill is 100% homophobic and transphobic is being called “insane,” and echoes what President Joe Biden said in calling the measure a “hateful bill.”

But in reading the 5-page bill, the controversial text reads like this:

“A school district may not encourage classroom discussion about sexually orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”

The Floridian spoke to Rep. Harding about Rep. Eskamani’s description of his bill.

The first-term legislator called Eskamani’s remarks “dangerous rhetoric.”

“It is insane to say that gay people will be erased by this bill. That is dangerous rhetoric,” said Rep. Harding, adding, “How deeply offensive is that to parents, that somehow defining what is age-appropriate and ensuring that parents are engaged and not blocked out of their student's education is somehow homophobic?”

Fellow legislator, Rep. Mike Giallombari (R) reiterated what Harding said, calling Eskamani's statement "harmful rhetoric that spreads misinformation and propaganda to push an agenda."

Rep. Giallombardo added," This bill is 100% about parental rights which we should all fight for."

Last week, Harding commented on President Biden’s disdain for his parental rights bill, saying that parental rights is a losing issue for Democrats in the 2022 midterm elections.

"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,” said Harding.

"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," Biden tweeted on Tuesday. "I have your back, and my Administration will continue to fight for the protections and safety you deserve."