{"id":584027,"date":"2022-01-30T13:01:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-30T18:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.the74million.org\/?post_type=article&p=584027"},"modified":"2022-01-27T16:05:01","modified_gmt":"2022-01-27T21:05:01","slug":"are-lawmakers-pushing-to-censor-discussions-of-race-and-gender-in-classrooms-and-the-workplace","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.the74million.org\/article\/are-lawmakers-pushing-to-censor-discussions-of-race-and-gender-in-classrooms-and-the-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"Are Lawmakers Pushing to Censor Discussions of Race and Gender in Classrooms and the Workplace?"},"content":{"rendered":"

F<\/span>lorida GOP lawmakers are working to expand provisions in the state\u2019s Civil Rights Act to protect individuals from being subjected to certain instructional materials regarding race or sex in Florida\u2019s classrooms and workplaces, potentially leading to civil actions or administrative proceedings.<\/p>\n

At issue is an ongoing effort from the DeSantis administration to dictate how race and other topics are discussed in schools, as well as an increasing effort to limit the freedom of private businesses to make decisions for their companies.<\/p>\n

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Rep. Bryan Avila, a Republican who represents part of Miami-Dade County and the sponsor of HB 7, says that the legislation is an affirmation that people will not be judged by characteristics such as race or sex.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis bill makes it clear, that in Florida, people will be judged as individuals \u2014 by their words, their characters, and their actions,\u201d Avila said at a Wednesday House Judiciary Committee meeting. The bill passed 14 to 7 (with one vote missing), and with Democrats in opposition.<\/p>\n

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Rep. Dianne Hart (Florida House of Representatives)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThis bill cripples the ability for teachers to teach effectively,\u201d said Rep. Dianne Hart, who represents part of Hillsborough County, said at the Wednesday meeting.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery teacher I\u2019ve ever encountered, does their job from not only an academic standpoint, but from a personal one,\u201d Hart said. It is their personal experiences that they use to make the curriculum come alive for their students. Even more so for the Black and Brown students on the topic of race and discrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n

HB 7 expands the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, according to the bill analysis, which \u201csecures for all individuals within the state freedom from discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, handicap, or marital status.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bill affects areas of education and employment, saying that individuals should not be subjected to training or materials that espouse principles such as:<\/p>\n