ANNALS OF DeSANTISTAN: Florida Republicans eye new target: Flags (POLITICO, January 17, 2024)

Another Hitler tactic from monochromatic maniacal RONALD DION DeSANTIS maladministration.  This Boy Governor stinks on ice.  From Politico: 

Florida Republicans eye new target: Flags 

POLITICO 1/17/24 "What hurts people in this culture war codification is hate and … violence," says one Democrat. TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Flags could be the latest casualty in Florida’s ongoing culture wars. Flags heralding support for LBGTQ pride, Black Lives Matter and even Donald Trump would have to be taken down in classrooms and government buildings across Florida under new legislation introduced Wednesday by House Republicans. GOP lawmakers contend removing all flags with a political viewpoint is necessary to save students from being “subliminally indoctrinated” with critical race theory, Marxism and transgender ideology. The proposal would also ban the Confederate flag from these places. “Our taxpayer dollars should not be subsidizing political speech in government buildings and classrooms,” said state Rep. David Borrero (R-Sweetwater), a co-sponsor of the legislation. “It’s time we stopped … local governments and public school teachers from using classrooms and governments buildings as their indoctrination pulpit.” The bill, FL HB901 (24R), requires K-12 schools, colleges, universities and government agencies, as well as local state government buildings, to remain politically neutral by targeting flags touching on viewpoints that explicitly include “partisan, racial, sexual orientation and gender.” Lawmakers advanced the proposal along party lines during its first House hearing, with Democrats joining dozens of LGBTQ advocates in opposition. A similar bill, FL SB1120 (24R) has been filed, but not heard or scheduled for a hearing, in the Senate. Critics of the legislation claim it is an attempt by Republicans to quiet the voices of LGBTQ and minority communities, efforts they equate to “bullying” and “affirming hate” for building on past legislation. In 2023, GOP officials led by Gov. Ron DeSantis passed laws broadening the state’s prohibition on teaching about sexual identity and gender orientation, known by critics as “Don’t Say Gay,” banned transgender minors from receiving gender-affirming care and made it a criminal offense for someone to use bathrooms that don’t align with their sex at birth. GOP lawmakers contend removing all flags with a political viewpoint is necessary to save students from being “subliminally indoctrinated” with critical race theory, Marxism and transgender ideology. The proposal would also ban the Confederate flag from these places. “Our taxpayer dollars should not be subsidizing political speech in government buildings and classrooms,” said state Rep. David Borrero (R-Sweetwater), a co-sponsor of the legislation. “It’s time we stopped … local governments and public school teachers from using classrooms and governments buildings as their indoctrination pulpit.” The bill, FL HB901 (24R), requires K-12 schools, colleges, universities and government agencies, as well as local state government buildings, to remain politically neutral by targeting flags touching on viewpoints that explicitly include “partisan, racial, sexual orientation and gender.” Lawmakers advanced the proposal along party lines during its first House hearing, with Democrats joining dozens of LGBTQ advocates in opposition. A similar bill, FL SB1120 (24R) has been filed, but not heard or scheduled for a hearing, in the Senate. Critics of the legislation claim it is an attempt by Republicans to quiet the voices of LGBTQ and minority communities, efforts they equate to “bullying” and “affirming hate” for building on past legislation. In 2023, GOP officials led by Gov. Ron DeSantis passed laws broadening the state’s prohibition on teaching about sexual identity and gender orientation, known by critics as “Don’t Say Gay,” banned transgender minors from receiving gender-affirming care and made it a criminal offense for someone to use bathrooms that don’t align with their sex at birth.