On Tuesday (March 8), the controversial Parents Rights in Education bill was passed in the Florida Senate, leading Ariana Grande and other famous faces to speak out against it.
Better known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, the potential law would restrict teachers from speaking about LGBTQ+ history, people, and other topics in school classrooms across the state and give parents the right to sue educators and administrators who did so. A proposed amendment to the bill would also require school counselors and teachers to out LGBTQ+ students to their parents at home if they come out or confide in a trusted adult at school.
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“Really disgusting,” Ari wrote in her Instagram Stories beneath a post by Equality Florida sharing the news.
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“Queer identity is beautiful & natural. Say it to yourself until you feel safe enough to say it out loud,” wrote Emmy, Grammy and Tony winner Lin-Manuel Miranda in a series of tweets reacting to the news. “Then say it again. And again. Say Gay all day. It needs to be heard and it bears repeating.”
Meanwhile, George Takei spoke out about the bill on Twitter, writing, “A Florida lawmaker got up to say that “gay” isn’t permanent. I’m not sure what she meant by that, since I’ve been gay for more than 84 years, but many of nature’s most beautiful creations, from rainbows to bursts of flower blossoms, don’t last forever. Just long enough to wow.”
The bill will next cross the desk of Florida governor Rick DeSantis, who has said publicly that he supports it. If he ultimately signs the legislation, it will go into effect beginning July 1.
Lord of the Rings actor Sean Aston tweeted, “The bill is an obvious & clumsy partisan political effort. Away from the spotlight, this will damage kids & families. This law won’t survive in the courts.”
See more reactions to the passage of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill below.
Queer identity is beautiful & natural. Say it to yourself until you feel safe enough to say it out loud. Then say it again. And again. Say Gay all day. It needs to be heard and it bears repeating. All of you, ALL of you. Love is Love is Love.❤️ 3/3 -LMM
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) March 9, 2022
A Florida lawmaker got up to say that “gay” isn’t permanent. I’m not sure what she meant by that, since I’ve been gay for more than 84 years, but many of nature’s most beautiful creations, from rainbows to bursts of flower blossoms, don’t last forever. Just long enough to wow.
— George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 8, 2022
I spent time today reading the Florida so called ‘don’t say gay’ bill, designed to protect parents rights. I don’t like it. The bill is an obvious & clumsy partisan political effort. Away from the spotlight, this will damage kids & families. This law won’t survive in the courts.
— Sean Astin (@SeanAstin) March 9, 2022
The Animation Guild and the QueerTAG committee express immense disappointment with how The Walt Disney Company has responded to Florida’s #DontSayGay bill. Read the entire statement at https://t.co/RVl5IBvSCA@QTag839 @Iatse #DoBetterDisney pic.twitter.com/DMFn2NMUco
— The Animation Guild // #WeAre839 (@animationguild) March 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/JohnnyGWeir/status/1501348163281633283
You have to stand for something. The CEO of a company like Disney should know this. Very disappointing. My takeaway from the last two years? Everyone’s horrible. I hate this shit. https://t.co/tGNk4siMcR
— George Hahn (@georgehahn) March 8, 2022
I read this article in Vanity Fair today:
"FLORIDA’S BIGOTED “DON’T SAY GAY” BILL IS ON ITS WAY TO BECOMING LAW"…This is ridiculous. Like my best friend for 35 years who is gay always says : "Almost every hand you have ever shaken has had a penis in it." pic.twitter.com/KrclK5UWr7— jim rose circus (@jimrosecircus1) March 1, 2022
Florida Republicans pass “Don’t Say Gay” Legislation.
Tennessee Republicans banning books.
Tell me again how they’re against “Cancel Culture”.
— Chris Hahn (@ChristopherHahn) March 8, 2022
My gay ass moving all production OUT of Florida. #SayGay pic.twitter.com/Bjjv2KmkqM
— Jay Arnold (@jayfarnold) March 8, 2022