Florida caves on AP Psychology. Controversy latest problem for DeSantis as his campaign faces repercussions from his 'war on woke.'

UPDATE - Unfortunately, this post was partly correct. While it seems that Florida capitulated, so much uncertainty was created that schools are canceling AP Psychology classes. 

Chalk the following up as another embarrassment for FL Gov Ron DeSantis as his "war on woke" seems to be slowly but surely wrecking his presidential campaign.

From MSNBC:

Florida and the College Board appear to have come to a resolution over the inclusion of LGBTQ topics in the state’s Advanced Placement Psychology classes. The resolve came a day after the education nonprofit said the state "effectively banned" the course due to its content on sexual orientation and gender identity. In a letter shared with school superintendents Friday, Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said the department "is not discouraging districts from teaching AP Psychology."

 "In fact, the Department believes that AP Psychology can be taught in its entirety in a manner that is age and developmentally appropriate and the course remains listed in our course catalog," Diaz wrote. In a statement shared with NBC News on Monday, the College Board — which administers the SAT and college-level classes to high school students — responded to the Florida Department of Education's new guidance with a mix of hope and skepticism.

 . . . In its Thursday statement, the College Board said the Florida Department of Education had "effectively banned AP Psychology in the state by instructing Florida superintendents that teaching foundational content on sexual orientation and gender identity is illegal under state law." Florida’s Parental Rights in Education act, or what critics have dubbed the "Don’t Say Gay" law, restricts the instruction of sexual orientation and gender identity in the state’s classrooms. 

 When contacted by NBC News on Thursday, the department denied that it had banned the course, though it did not answer questions on whether it tried to restrict the course's LGBTQ content. Florida's so-called Don't Say Gay law was signed last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who is running for president. 

 LGBTQNation called it a 'humiliating defeat' for DeSantis and it couldn't have happened at a worse time. For all of his talking about a reset of his presidential campaign, he is still struggling far behind GOP front runner Donald Trump (even after Trump's recent indictments).

Also, several deep pocketed donors seem to be backing away from his campaign with their reason being DeSantis's over-reliance on his 'culture war.' According to Reuters:

Hotel entrepreneur Robert Bigelow, the biggest individual donor to a group supporting Ron DeSantis' presidential bid, told Reuters on Friday he will not donate more money unless the Florida governor attracts new major donors and adopts a more moderate approach. 

 The comments by Bigelow, who gave $20 million to the pro-DeSantis "Never Back Down" super PAC in March, underscore donor concerns about the Florida governor's struggling campaign, which has been unable to make a dent in former President Donald Trump's huge lead for the 2024 Republican nomination.

Donors aren't the only ones turning their backs on DeSantis. Recently, several former GOP governors and lawmakers publicly said that his attack on Disney (a key component in his 'war on woke') is “severely damaging to the political, social, and economic fabric of the State."

And all the while, some folks are saying that his "arrogance" is the reason for many of his missteps.

'DeSantis war against Disney has damaged Florida, former GOP governors and lawmakers say' & other Mon midday news briefs

DeSantis' retaliation against Disney hurts Florida, former governors and lawmakers say - And they are right.

America’s Pediatricians Reiterate Support for Gender-Affirming Care - Nice to see this group stepping up for gender-affirming care. 

Polling suggests that defeating 'woke' policies in schools and government is not a priority for most Republican voters - The so-called 'war on woke' is tiring for everybody. 

Free speech wins as Des Moines pauses LGBTQ+ school book removal - A small victory. But still a victory. 

 14 LGBTQ+ TV Shows and Movies to Watch in August 2023 - Be on the lookout.

'LGBTQ+ children participate in Pride summer camp in New York' & other Fri midday news briefs

 

Far right idiots on Twitter and other social media areas were freaking out about this news segment and this camp. For that reason, and especially because this is a wonderful camp, I want to spotlight it.

In other news: 

Congress Is Pushing An Online Safety Bill Supported By Anti-LGBTQ Groups - Keep an eye open on this. It will not be the last time we hear about it. 

Florida effectively bans advanced psychology course over LGBTQ content, course developer says - In case you haven't heard, DeSantis continues to be a textbook case of a bad governor. This was his doing.

Anti-drag bigots promised 300 protestors at Edinburgh Fringe – only eight turned up - Ha. Ha.

Texas's anti-drag law to be challenged in court by ACLU, other defendants

Your turn, Texas.

From The Advocate:

The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas sued the Texas Attorney General and other defendants on Wednesday to prevent Senate Bill 12 from taking effect on September 1. It would ban drag performances in most public venues if permitted to move forward. In the ACLU’s lawsuit, the group asserts that SB 12, which includes a ban on drag performances, violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments and threatens Texans’ livelihoods and free expression. For artists and those who support them, the ban targets any performance that could be construed as “sexual” and imposes criminal penalties, including a year in jail. Many constitutionally protected performances could be censored by this law, such as touring Broadway plays and professional cheerleading routines or karaoke nights and drag shows, the ACLU said in a statement. 

 From LGBTQNation: 

The plaintiffs include Houston Pride organizer The Woodlands Pride, Abilene Pride Alliance, Extragrams, LLC, 360 Queen Entertainment LLC, and drag artist Brigitte Bandit. 

 “Texas queens and kings from across our great state have been targets of threats and misinformation as a result of the anti-drag law,” Bandit said in a statement. “We must reject their attempts to divide us and continue to come together in our truth and power to support each other as Texans should.”

 “Long live Texas drag!” the popular drag queen added. Woodlands Pride president Jason Rocha characterized SB 12 as censorship aimed at erasing LGBTQ+ visibility. “Censoring drag is censoring free speech,” said Rocha said. 

“The Woodlands Pride was formed to help amplify the voices and representation of all, specifically the LGBTQIA+ community. Drag is a symbol of expression, and the freedom to express yourself is quintessential to human nature. We know this ban is aimed specifically at our community. 

 LGBTQNation also pointed out that: 

 Similar drag bans have been blocked by courts in Florida, Tennessee, and Montana for containing “overbroad” provisions that violate people’s rights to free speech and due process.

'How Florida deviated from standard practices to rig key report against transgender healthcare' & other Thur midday news briefs

Florida deviated from standard practices for key report regarding transgender care - Basically how Florida officials rigged an attack on trans healthcare. 

Community members press school board to fight the state’s anti-LGBTQ education laws - Also in Florida.

NFL cheerleaders’ public sex appeal showcases hypocrisy of the fight against drag queens - Hypocrisy alert.

Conservatives are outraged that Dr. Martens made a customized pair of boots supporting trans people- When are these dundershits never outraged? It's a constant state with them. 

Transgender former student sues Missouri school for making her use boys' bathrooms - I love to see trans kids standing up for themselves.

Courts in Indiana and Ohio award victories to trans kids in cases involving anti-bullying policies and bathroom usage.

When it comes to our trans kids, the courts have thankfully shown sanity in recent cases in Ohio and Indiana. 

From The Advocate:

A lawsuit from a conservative group challenging an Ohio school district’s anti-bullying policies that protect transgender students was thrown out of a federal court yesterday, saying it was unlikely to succeed on a key constitutional claim. 

 The Virginia-based, conservative education activist group Parents Defending Education (PDE) had filed the lawsuit claiming the anti-bullying policies of the Olentangy Local School District just north of Columbus are overly broad and violate a student’s protected First Amendment free speech rights when it forbids misgendering trans youth, according to local NBC affiliate WCMH. The policies also extend to student, teacher, and parent interactions in person and on social media when outside of school.

 “Transgender youth are far too often subject to harassment and bullying in public schools,” U.S. District Chief Judge Algenon L. Marbley wrote in the ruling, saying PDE had failed to prove its claims. “They are threatened or physically injured in schools at a rate four times higher than other students. They are harassed verbally at extraordinarily higher rates. More than one in five attempt suicide.” 

 “Today’s decision affirms our commitment to maintaining a safe learning environment where all feel welcome and supported,” the district said in a statement. “We will continue to do so and are looking forward to another great school year.” 

 From LGBTQNation: 

 The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit has ruled in favor of three transgender students who were forbidden by their schools from using bathrooms matching their gender identities. The circuit court upheld a lower court’s preliminary injunction that said the schools have to let trans students use facilities associated with their genders.

 “Students who are denied access to the appropriate facilities are caused both serious emotional and physical harm as they are denied recognition of who they are,” said ACLU of Indiana lawyer Kenneth Falk. “They will often avoid using the restroom altogether while in school. Schools should be a safe place for kids and the refusal to allow a student to use the correct facilities can be extremely damaging.”

 The case involves three trans boys in Martinsville, Indiana and Terre Haute, Indiana, who need access to the boys’ room at their middle and high schools.

. . .The school’s transgender bathroom policy took numerous factors into consideration and the school’s administration said that trans students needed unspecified surgical changes before they could use the correct bathroom. Gender-affirming surgery is banned for trans people under the age of 18 in Indiana.

 The court took into account the fact that Title IX bans discrimination on the basis of sex in schools that receive federal money, which is most of them. Citing the 2020 Supreme Court decision in Bostock v. Clayton Co. that found that job discrimination against LGBTQ+ people necessarily takes sex into account and is therefore prohibited under Title VII, the appeals court ruled that the trans boys are likely to succeed in their case and that preventing them from using the correct bathroom while the case works its way through the court system could cause irreparable harm.

 

'School district may ban biography of Pete Buttigieg to comply with anti-LGBTQ+ book ban law' & other Wed midday news briefs

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

School district may ban biography of Pete Buttigieg to comply with anti-LGBTQ+ book ban law​ - Wow!

Ron DeSantis Invites Kamala Harris to Discuss Slavery Standards with Homophobe Who Wrote Them - Keep digging that hole, DeSantis. 

Ron “Don’t Say Gay” DeSantis tries & fails to rewrite history by claiming he’s never “demeaned” gay people - Dig! Dig! Dig! 

Global AIDS program targeted in abortion battle gets new home in State Department bureau - Republicans actually went after this program even though it was initiated by Bush. 

Ghanaian PhD student loses scholarship in the US after attack on LGBTQ community - FA and FO.