Coco Gauff Takes Stand Against Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill

by Shine My Crown Staff
Coco Gauff

Republican controlled states are rampaging against basic human rights, and Florida has been at the forefront of these infuriating and punitive restrictions.

Their latest move is the passage of the “don’t say gay” bill, which bans public school districts from teaching about gender identity or sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade.

It’s their latest charade and “fake rage” effort to control and suppress human rights.

Congressional Democrats, the White House and Disney (finally) have all expressed their opposition to the bill, especially as it sets the stage for extending it (the ban) to higher grade levels.

That opposition has now been joined by tennis star and Florida resident, Coco Gauff.

“I’m against it,” said Gauff to reporters Wednesday before her first match at the Indian Wells tennis tournament in California. “I think these conversations are important, and for me, who has friends in the LGBTQ+ community, I couldn’t imagine not being able to talk about your identity. I feel that’s something that is normal.”

The legislation, formally known as the “Parental Rights in Education” bill, was passed by both the Florida House and Senate and Governor DeSantis is expected to sign it.

But everyone, including Gauff, knows exactly what this bill is about, who it affects and what the true purpose of it is, and they’re not staying silent about it.

“Every [LGBTQ+] person I’ve known has known that they were part of that community since they were young,” said Gauff. “I think it’s important that they have those conversations in school, because that is supposed to be a safe space to talk about everything.”

Continue reading over at First and Pen.

This content has been brought to you by First and Pen in partnership with ShineMyCrown. First and Pen “amplifies local sports stories from voices of color to the national conscience…”

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