Florida education officials have settled a lawsuit over the state's "don't say gay" law, clarifying that teachers and students can discuss LGBTQ+ topics in classrooms as long as it's not part of formal instruction. The settlement specifies that the law doesn't prohibit discussing LGBTQ+ people, anti-bullying rules, or Gay-Straight Alliance groups, and doesn't apply to library books not used for instruction. The law, championed by Governor Ron DeSantis, had 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.
Target will no longer sell a civil rights activity kit that misidentified prominent Black leaders after a high school U.S. history teacher's viral TikTok video. The kit by Bendon Publishing mixed up the names of Carter G. Woodson, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Booker T. Washington. The misidentification comes amid a culture war over discussing race and racism. The kit included magnets of notable civil rights leaders and was available ahead of Black History Month. The misidentification prompted outrage online, leading to Target pulling the product from its shelves.
The Metropolitan School District of Martinsville expresses deep disappointment in the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to not intervene in a lower court's ruling allowing transgender students in Indiana to use bathrooms matching their gender identity. The district's petition to uphold its policy of requiring transgender students to use bathrooms corresponding to their assigned biological sex was denied, sparking a response from the district. This decision follows a lawsuit filed by a transgender boy and his parents, with the district now considering its next steps in compliance with the law and the best interests of its students and community.
