"Florida Lawsuit Settlement Allows Discussion of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Classrooms"

Florida education officials and civil rights attorneys have reached a settlement clarifying that teachers and students can discuss sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms, as long as it's not part of formal instruction, under the state's controversial "Don't Say Gay" law. The settlement specifies that the law doesn't prohibit discussions about LGBTQ+ people, anti-bullying rules, or Gay-Straight Alliance groups, and also allows for incidental references to LGBTQ+ characters in library books. The law, championed by Governor Ron DeSantis, has faced criticism for creating confusion and a chilling effect in classrooms, but the settlement is being hailed as a "major win" by the governor's office.