THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

Books pulled from school library shelves by the dozens.

All evidence of inclusivity stripped from classrooms.

The politically motivated takeover of a beloved liberal arts college.

What sounds like the plot of a dystopian novel or a page out of a WWII history book is a frightening reality for Floridians since Gov. Ron Desantis and fellow conservative lawmakers enacted their oppressive agenda.

First, they pushed to eradicate African American studies and LGBTQ awareness in public schools. Then, they came for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and Gender Studies in colleges. Now, they are outright attacking the transgender community and migrant workers.

It's clear that the "War on Woke" is actually a campaign against marginalized populations and academic freedoms. With policy as their weapon and hatred as their fuel, conservatives have made Florida a battleground for human rights.

While some people are, understandably, fleeing the state in search of more accepting communities, many are deliberately staying put. And many more don't have the means to relocate.

Floridians are frightened but determined to fight for their freedom to thrive in this state.

What is it really like for Floridians?

In the last local election cycle, both Brevard and Sarasota counties witnessed school board takeovers by Desantis-backed, ultra-conservative candidates. New leadership has led to drastic changes including book bans, the removal of social-emotional learning, attempted shady contractor deals [ www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/sarasotacounty/sarasota-school-board-hire-consultant-vermilion-education/67-4bdc127e-1b2f-4a6c-81bd-5457cd9368be ], and the politically motivated firing of superintendents.

"It's a politically theatrical cash grab at the cost of human liberty and our children's futures," laments Sarasota parent Justin Mikula, who recently attended a rally in support of New College. Mikula, like many concerned parents, is planning to move his family to a more progressive state within the next few years.

For one parent, reality set in when her children missed their first book fair of the year because the materials available didn't have time to pass through the media specialist for approval. They finally got their book fair near the end of the school year, but the selection was limited to district-approved books and certainly didn't include any of the titles on the long list of Florida's banned books [ www.miaminewtimes.com/news/more-than-350-books-banned-in-florida-schools-since-last-july-16817328 ].

The book bans are not relegated to school districts under right-wing rule. Thanks to the recent legislative session, any parent who takes issue with any educational material in a public school can petition to have it reviewed by newly selected district officials for potential restriction or removal from shelves altogether.

A Miami district recently banned Amanda Gorman's poem. You may recognize it as the one she read at President Biden's inauguration. Florida currently holds an unfortunate title as one of the leading states for book bans.

Literature isn't the only target. Thanks to the expansion of the Parental Rights in Education bill, any discussions or educational material on LGBTQ or race-based topics are banned from all public school classrooms. Educators caught in violation of the new law will get slapped with a third-degree felony.

Hernando County 5th grade teacher, Jenna Barbee, is undergoing an investigation [ www.npr.org/2023/05/16/1176334055/florida-investigating-teacher-disney-movie-gay-character-desantis after showing her students a movie that aligned with her science curriculum. The film also briefly mentioned a male character's crush on another male character, causing one parent to submit a complaint.

The movie in question is Disney's animated Strange World, a PG story about a family's quest to save their planet. It displays themes of cooperation and respect for nature. If found guilty, Barbee could face thousands of dollars in fines and up to five years in prison.

During the public comment period of a recent Sarasota school board meeting, board chairwoman, Bridget Zeigler, allowed a speaker to spend their full three minutes verbally attacking board member Tom Edwards for being gay [ www.mysuncoast.com/2023/03/23/sarasota-county-school-board-member-walks-out-after-being-verbally-attacked/ ]and cited pictures of him reading to children in their school library as sexual impropriety. Near the end of the hateful tirade, Edwards walked out of the session.

Local parent Jessica Thomason, who witnessed the event, recalls, "That kind of vitriol was honestly very alarming." She says it motivated her to "show up and speak … because the person who said that was speaking as a parent, and she doesn't speak for me." Thomason has since attended every school board meeting, as well as the county's superintendent search meetings, and has spoken during public comment periods.

This isn't the first time Zeigler's name has made shocking headlines. She is one of the founding members of Moms For Liberty, a far-right organization with a motive to gain positions of power and destroy public education—an organization that happened to endorse as many as 270 school board candidates nationally in 2022.

What are the laws, exactly?

HB 1557 [ www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1557 ], named the Parental Rights in Education Bill, or the "Don't Say Gay" bill, took effect in July 2022 [ www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Floridas-Dont-Say-Gay-law-takes-effect/73484.html ]. This legislation prohibits the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity for kindergarten to third-grade students.

HB 1223 [ www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1223/ ] is the expansion of HB 1557. It extends the ban to 12th grade [ www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Florida-bans-teaching-of-sexuality-gender-identity-in-K-12-public-schools/74885.html ] and takes effect July 1, 2023. All students and staff are also prohibited from asking about or using pronouns other than the ones assigned at birth.

HB 999 [ www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/999/BillText/c2/PDF ] was originally proposed to ban universities from supporting any programs that "espouse diversity, equity, or inclusion" at universities, as well as gender studies and "Critical Race Theory rhetoric." It also allows board trustees to review the tenure of any faculty member. This bill has seen some modifications since its introduction in February [ www.tampabay.com/news/education/2023/04/19/house-bill-999-moves-forward-modified-form-drawing-strong-emotions/ ]. If passed, it would take effect in July 2023.

HB 7 [ www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/7 ] , the Individual Freedoms Act, essentially prohibits workplace training on racial sensitivity, discrimination, or harassment, and bars any discussion of race in classrooms. This bill is also called the Stop WOKE Act [ www.windycitytimes.com/lgbt/Florida-Senate-passes-Stop-WOKE-Act-bill-heads-to-DeSantis-desk-for-signature-or-veto/72605.html ], with WOKE as an acronym for Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees. It took effect in July 2022.

What can someone do to help?

You can show support and solidarity by raising awareness about what's happening to Florida schools and contacting elected officials to express your opposition to oppressive legislation.

It's also imperative to participate in your local elections and pay close attention to changes in elected officials. Moms for Liberty has active chapters in Illinois and will likely back some candidates running in the next election cycle.

Change, both positive and negative, begins locally. If we combat hate in our close communities, we have a better chance as a society.

Nicole Pejovich is a freelance writer, parent of two elementary-aged daughters, and member of the LGBTQ+ community. She writes for OutCoast.com, a queer travel website, and Project Pride SRQ, a local LGBTQ+ non-profit. When she's not writing, you'll find her enjoying time with her kiddos, gardening, supporting local artists, or smashing the patriarchy.