TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — With culture wars heating up in an election year, the Florida House on Tuesday split along bitter partisan lines as members considered two Republican-sponsored education bills that target discussions of race and sexual orientation in public schools.
The proposals — backed by Republican legislative leadership and Gov. Ron DeSantis — have provoked heated debate in the Capitol and around the country in recent months, with Democrats and critics worried they could have a chilling effect on what can be taught in the classroom and could harm LGBTQ students.
Supporters argue the measures would give parents more control over decisions related to kids’ well-being in schools and prevent teachers from making students feel uncomfortable over events they did not play a role in.
