Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) signed the Let Kids Be Kids bill package, which includes a multitude of pieces of legislation that focus on the protection of children in the doctor’s office, drag shows, the athletic field, as well as a flurry of other areas.
The Let Kids Be Kids package incorporates bills such as SB 254 – Outlawing Permanent Mutilation of Minors, HB 1069 – Removing Pronoun Politics and Expanding Parental Rights in Education, HB 1438 – Protecting Children’s Innocence, HB 1521 – Ensuring Women’s Safety, and HB 225 – Expanding Access to Youth Sports.
The marquee bill, SB 254, prohibits sex reassignment surgeries and experimental puberty blockers for children, as well as requires adult patients receiving the same treatment to be informed about the irreversible effects of the procedures.
“Florida is proud to lead the way in standing up for our children. As the world goes mad, Florida represents a refuge of sanity and a citadel of normalcy,” stated Gov. DeSantis.
During the press conference following the bill becoming law, Gov. DeSantis mentioned that there is a “rogue element” in the medical industry that is driving the effort of sex assignment surgeries and puberty blockers for children.
With my signature, Florida permanently prohibits genital mutilating surgical procedures and experimental puberty blockers for minors.
Minors given these procedures without their consent will now be able to recover damages for permanent injury or death caused by these medical… pic.twitter.com/yedpRgowPP
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 17, 2023
“You have a movement amongst, I would say, rogue elements of the medical establishment to do things that is basically the mutilation of minors. They’re trying to do sex change operations on minors, giving them things like puberty blockers and doing things that are irreversible to them. That is not based on science. That is not based on evidence,” said DeSantis.
The Florida Governor also signed the controversial SB 1438, which “protects children from sexually explicit performances in all venues,” as well as “prohibits a person from knowingly admitting a minor to an adult performance,” by penalizing those who admit the minor (the venue), rather than the parents.
HB 1069 prohibits schools from forcing students to share their pronouns, as well as bans “classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity until 9th grade. HB 1521 demands that public bathrooms (within buildings such as schools, detention facilities, or correctional institutions, are to be designated based on biological sex. HB 225 allows teams to pray before high school games.
“Thank you to Governor Ron DeSantis for continuing to implement legislation to keep our students safe and our schools focused on education, not indoctrination,” said Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr. “Today’s actions make it clear – educators in Florida are expected to teach our standards, and not interject their own opinions or worldview into the classroom. The Department will remain focused on teaching students core subjects, rather than woke gender ideology or inappropriate topics.”
DeSantis is expected to announce a presidential run in the coming weeks.
