A.G. Gancarski
Florida’s Chief Financial Officer lauded the “organic” process in the Legislature Tuesday while discussing a controversial piece of legislation.
During an appearance on the right-of-center One America News Network, CFO Jimmy Patronis was asked to weigh in on what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, legislation in Senate and House committees that could restrict discussions of gender issues in schools.
SB 1834 and HB 1557, sponsored by Ocala Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley and Levy County Republican Rep. Joe Harding, would prohibit schools from encouraging classroom discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity that are not considered age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate.
“The Florida legislative process is an amazing process,” Patronis said, one made up of “an amazing cross section of individuals.”
“They listen to their constituents. They go home every single weekend and make sure the policies they’re pushing make sense. And these ideas they come up with, they’re organic. Moms and dads want these policies,” Patronis said, noting that House sponsor Harding is from Ocala in Central Florida.
That regional identification, Patronis added, is a “good barometer” for Florida, “the center of the state.”
Patronis chided the Joe Biden White House for “trying to pick a fight” with Florida on this issue, responding to a tweet from the Democratic President last week denouncing the bill.
“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,” Biden asserted.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has signaled support for the bill, contending that in some schools students are getting unwarranted guidance regarding their gender identity formation.
“In terms of the schools, we’ve seen instances of students being told by different folks in school, ‘Oh, you know, don’t worry, don’t pick your gender yet. Do all this other stuff,’” DeSantis maintained. “They won’t tell the parents about these discussions that are happening. That is entirely inappropriate.”
8 comments
Ron Ogden
February 15, 2022 at 3:24 pm
The “don’t say gay” label is just lefty rhetoric. Read the bill! Here is the relevant language:
“3. A school district may not encourage classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”
What do Democrats want, discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity in first grade?! Want they want is the freedom to do to children whatever they want to do, inculcating in them whatever ideas some sex psychologist gins up.
The leftwing opposition to this is just old-fashioned sex-based divisiveness, just like nearly everything the left does has some element of its cherished “sex-positive” theology involved.
Frankie M.
February 15, 2022 at 5:18 pm
That bill is about as organic as an oral bowel movement.
Ron Ogden
February 15, 2022 at 9:20 pm
It”s called “coprophilia” , Frankie. I am sure you are familiar with it.
Frankie M.
February 16, 2022 at 11:39 am
Republicans sure seem to have alot of time on their hands to think about all these things.
Frankie M.
February 15, 2022 at 5:15 pm
Yet another example of a solution in search of a problem. These culture war bills are tedious not to mention unnecessary. Who is talking about this stuff at the primary school level besides big R repubs like Patronis? Maybe Jimmy should amend his comments to reflect “straight” moms & dads? Don’t want to alienate those log cabin republiicans. Still waiting for all that polling data Jimmy forgot to note while making his blanket statement.
Antonio
February 16, 2022 at 9:59 am
Teachers that care more about ideology than they do about teaching are talking about this stuff with children that are not old enough to understand it. It became very obvious during the COVID zoom homeschooling in 2020 as parents could see and hear the teachers. You say Patronis should amend his comments to reflect “straight” moms and dads? What are you on? Straight moms and dads are the tsunami sized overwhelming majority of parents. You can complain about it all you want, but it doesn’t change the fact that most parents want this bill.
Frankie M.
February 16, 2022 at 11:43 am
Can we get some examples that aren’t hearsay or anecdotal? Funny how this has only just now come to light seeing as how such a “serious issue” it is.
If “majority rules” determines the content of public education maybe the “majority” of straight parents should take their vouchers (& kids) to all those terrific private &/or religious schools that will happily take their $$ & never talk about anything controversial that could possibly traumatize little Johnny or Suzy.
Antonio
February 16, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Ok, you are clearly not a serious person. Please explain why an overwhelming majority should have to bend to the will of a minute fraction. This isn’t even debatable, most parents are “straight”, that’s how they are parents to begin with. And most do not want age inappropriate discussions happening with their children. And quite frankly, I don’t think there are many gay parents with adopted kids that want those discussions happening around their young children either.
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