Miami-Dade School Board rejects LGBTQ+ History Month for second time
MIAMI, Fla. – The Miami-Dade County School Board once again rejected a proposal recognizing the month of October as LGBTQ+ History Month.
“I have to sit up here as a constitutional officer. On this dais that is my role, I took an oath. And that oath was to uphold state law and the constitution,”Board Member Monica Colucci said in opposition.
Moms for Liberty Miami also celebrated the ruling in an Instagram post.
“Miami-Dade County School Board Win: LGBTQ+ History Month voted out 5-3. This item has been voted out 2 years in a row,” Momsforlibertymiami said.
“Kids in Miami-Dade Public Schools are scoring below average by 46% in reading and by 54% in math assessments. Let’s focus on academics, not sexuality in schools. It’s time to get back to basics,” the post reads.
The debate, which started on Wednesday, came to a close with an official vote Thursday morning.
“Our children are not our future, they are our now. We do not get too many chances to save our children. We defend our children, and these are our children. My vote tonight goes with the children who have come to us and so eloquently told us how they feel,” Board Member Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall said in favor.
The Miami-Dade County School board also rejected a similar proposal recognizing LBGTQ+ History Month for last October in an 8-1 vote.
“Thank you to the parents and citizens that made it out to the school board meeting to speak and make a presence. It’s not enough to complain. It’s now about taking action, protecting the children and parental rights. A HUGE THANK YOU to the school board members which upheld state law, protected the kids, teachers and respected parental rights. We see you,” Momsforlibertymiami continued.
The school board’s rejection follows a number of actions made under Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration circled around parents and students rights in education.
In March 2022, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law protecting parental rights in education. As part of its language, the legislation reinforced parents’ fundamental rights to make decisions regarding the upbringing of their children.
In addition, the law banned classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity through third grade and bars instruction that is not age appropriate for students. The law was recently extended to include classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity through 8th grade.
“Parents’ rights have been increasingly under assault around the nation, but in Florida we stand up for the rights of parents and the fundamental role they play in the education of their children,” DeSantis said in March of last year.
Back in May, DeSantis also signed the Let Kids be Kids bill package. The bundled legislation includes protecting kids from having to declare their pronouns in schools and ensured all Florida bathrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms have designated facilities based on biological sex.
“Florida is proud to lead the way in standing up for our children. “As the world goes mad, Florida represents a refuge of sanity and a citadel of normalcy,” DeSantis said in May.
Furthermore, DeSantis signed into legislation the “Fairness in Women’s Sports Act.” The bill affirmed an athletic team or sport designated for females, women, or girls cannot be open to students of the male sex; as stated biologically on the student’s official birth certificate.
“As a father of two daughters, I want my girls, and every girl in Florida, to compete on an even playing field for the opportunities available to young women in sports. Women have fought for decades to have equal opportunities in athletics, and we have to prevent those opportunities from being eroded as is happening in other states,” DeSantis said.
