I Don’t Think That It Is Over.

I think this is only the first of many lawsuits against the law.

Florida settles lawsuit over LGBT education bill
BBC News
By Kayla Epstein,
March 12, 2024

Gender identity and sexual orientation can be discussed in Florida classrooms as long as it is not a part of formal instruction, a legal settlement says.

The settlement, announced on Monday, clarifies the scope of a controversial state education law, but left it standing.

Plaintiffs had challenged Florida's 2022 parental rights bill, arguing it could marginalise LGBT youth.

Both Florida officials and the plaintiffs claimed victory on Monday.

Roberta Kaplan, the lead lawyer in the lawsuit, said in a statement that the legal settlement provides "much-needed clarity" and "represents a major victory for the many thousands of LGBTQ+ students, teachers, parents, and their allies throughout Florida".

Florida Governor Ron Desantis's office called it a "major win".

"We fought hard to ensure this law couldn't be maligned in court, as it was in the public arena by the media and large corporate actors," said general counsel Ryan Newman.

The Parental Rights in Education Act - dubbed by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" bill - initially prohibited classroom discussion and instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade in state public schools.

[…]

The plaintiffs challenging the law argued its vague language would have a chilling effect in schools and lead to confusion about what teachers were allowed to discuss with their students, including things like sharing details about their family lives.

Meanwhile Florida Equality writes…

Historic Settlement Achieved in Challenge to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” Law

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Equality Florida celebrates a landmark achievement in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in Florida by announcing a historic settlement in the challenge against the "Don't Say Gay or Trans" law. This settlement, reached with the Florida State Board of Education, Florida Department of Education, and various school districts, embodies the bravery of over a dozen parents, students, and teachers, along with the steadfast commitment of our allies at Family Equality.

This agreement successfully dismantles the most harmful impacts of the law, ensuring it cannot be wielded as a tool of discrimination against LGBTQ+ students, educators, and families. The settlement secures several critical protections and clarifications, including:

• Free Expression Restored: Students and teachers can now speak and write freely about sexual orientation and gender identity in classroom participation and assignments.
• Anti-Bullying Protections Strengthened: The settlement reinforces safeguards against bullying based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Gay-Straight Alliances Protected: GSAs are officially protected, providing students with essential support and advocacy spaces.
• Classroom References Clarified: The law cannot prohibit references to LGBTQ+ individuals, relationships, families, or topics in any educational or extracurricular context.
• Non-Discrimination Assured: Targeting LGBTQ+ persons, couples, families, or issues under the guise of this law is explicitly forbidden.
• Extracurricular Activities Protected: Participation in and support of LGBTQ+ student clubs and cultural presentations remain unaffected.

Until the law is struck down or repealed there have been no victory, just a win in a skirmish.

---

I came across this article on AP News about Putin.

The drama in Russia’s election is all about what Putin will do with another 6 years in power

BY JIM HEINTZ

March 14, 2024

As Vladimir Putin heads for another six-year term as Russia’s president, there’s little electoral drama in the race. What he does after he crosses the finish line is what’s drawing attention and, for many observers, provoking anxiety.

The voting that concludes on Sunday is all but certain to allow Putin to remain in office until 2030, giving him a full three decades of leading Russia as either president or prime minister.

The heft of that long tenure and the thorough suppression of effective domestic opposition voices gives Putin a very strong — and perhaps unrestrained — hand.

And what caught my eye was...

Russia last year banned the notional LGBTQ+ “movement” by declaring it to be extremist in what officials said was a fight for traditional values like those espoused by the Russian Orthodox Church in the face of Western influence. Courts also banned gender transitioning.

Ben Noble, an associate professor of Russian politics at University College London, said he believes the LGBTQ+ community could face further repression in a new Putin term.

In the Kremlin’s eye, they “can be held up as an import from the decadent West,” he said.

Our Russian gay brothers, lesbian sisters, and our trans and queer are going to be in for more brutal oppression at the hands of Putin. Mister Macho Man hates any male who does not live up to his ideal male. Putin theme song...