Florida Republican Lawmaker Files 'Don't Say Gay Flag' Bill

Florida Lawmaker files bill banning Gay pride flags from being flown over government buildings

The “Don’t Say Gay” bill was a conjured-up punchline used by Florida Democrats and media outlets to demonize the Parental Rights in Education bill that was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis during the 2022 Florida legislative session.

Now, Miami State Rep. David Borrero (R) has refiled his ‘Don’t Say Gay Flag’ bill for the upcoming 2024 legislative session that begins on January 9^th in Tallahassee, Florida.

While the parental rights in education measure prohibits the discussion of “sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels,” Rep. Borrero’s HB 901 specifically targets the gay and LGBTQ communities.

According to the bill, a “government agency must remain neutral when representing political viewpoints in displaying or erecting a flag.”

Meaning, that any flag, including a Blue Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter, Pride, or Confederate flag, cannot be flown over any local or state government entity, including “public schools, public colleges, and public universities.”

In addition, Borrero's bill calls for the U.S. Flag to be raised in a “superior” over any other flag that is also displayed at a government building, including the state flag.

Senator Jay Collins (R) filed a companion bill in the Florida Senate that allowed for POW-MIA flags, flags of foreign nations, and flags of the branches of the United States Armed Forces, to be flown. Borrero's measure allows for the U.S., Florida, POW-MIA, and Firefighter Memorial flags to be hoisted.

Borrero’s bill would have only allowed the U.S., Florida, Firefighter Memorial, and POW-MIA flags to be flown at government facilities. Collins’ measure, initially, would have only permitted flags the Governor approves.