A Florida College System institution, state university, Florida College System institution direct-support organization, or state university direct-support organization may not expend any state or federal funds to promote, support, or maintain any programs or campus activities that: (a) Violate s. 1000.05; or (b) Advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, or promote or engage in political or social activism, as defined by rules of the State Board of Education and regulations of the Board of Governors.
Notable inclusion and equity programs include things like wheelchair access and reach out programs to veterans. The bill states it does not block required programs and activities required for compliance with federal laws or regulations. This appears to mean colleges are required to meet with the minimum of accessibility standards for things like ramps for people in wheelchairs, but it is forbidden for going beyond those requirements. For example providing motorized chair lifts for people in wheelchairs. It is unclear if inclusive things like putting up Dia de los Muertos or Christmas decorations falls under this banner as well.
The bill also prohibits discussions around racism or oppression being involved in some of the institutions of the United States to cement power against certain groups. Historically groups that were discussed as being impacted by racism or oppression in American history were the Irish [3], Catholics [2] and the Chinese, among other more well known groups such as African Americans. Discussion of these subjects by colleges appears to be against the law in Florida.
The bill also appears to remove existing protections against discrimination on gender, switching instead to sex [line 308 of 1]. In layman’s terms this means there is no blockage on discrimination if a faculty member or student identifies as anything other than their birth sex.
iccebberg2 on May 16th, 2023 at 18:59 UTC »
This picture is so disturbing
Magister5 on May 16th, 2023 at 19:21 UTC »
ThreadbareHalo on May 16th, 2023 at 19:23 UTC »
The bill [1] states
Notable inclusion and equity programs include things like wheelchair access and reach out programs to veterans. The bill states it does not block required programs and activities required for compliance with federal laws or regulations. This appears to mean colleges are required to meet with the minimum of accessibility standards for things like ramps for people in wheelchairs, but it is forbidden for going beyond those requirements. For example providing motorized chair lifts for people in wheelchairs. It is unclear if inclusive things like putting up Dia de los Muertos or Christmas decorations falls under this banner as well.
The bill also prohibits discussions around racism or oppression being involved in some of the institutions of the United States to cement power against certain groups. Historically groups that were discussed as being impacted by racism or oppression in American history were the Irish [3], Catholics [2] and the Chinese, among other more well known groups such as African Americans. Discussion of these subjects by colleges appears to be against the law in Florida.
The bill also appears to remove existing protections against discrimination on gender, switching instead to sex [line 308 of 1]. In layman’s terms this means there is no blockage on discrimination if a faculty member or student identifies as anything other than their birth sex.
[1] https://m.flsenate.gov/session/bill/2023/266/billtext/er/pdf
[2] https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/americas-true-history-of-religious-tolerance-61312684/
[3] https://www.history.com/news/when-america-despised-the-irish-the-19th-centurys-refugee-crisis