![Ron DeSantis](https://queerty-prodweb.s3.amazonaws.com/2024/08/usatsi-23856680-872x581.jpg)
Ron “Don’t Say Gay” DeSantis may be out of the national spotlight, but the failed presidential candidate is still racking up Ls!
A few days ago, a federal judge in Tallahassee struck down another one of DeSantis’ regressive laws targeting LGBTQ+ people. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker ruled that Florida’s ban on providing gender-affirming care to state employees violates their civil rights, the AP reports. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 safeguards employees and job applicants from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin.
Three current and former state employees filed the suit against the Florida Department of Management Services in 2020. Their victory is just the latest triumph against DeSantis’ anti-LGBTQ+ agenda.
Politics, but make it gay!
Stay woke with our briefing while staying informed on all things LGBTQ+ entertainment, life, and more!
Earlier this summer, a federal judge nullified Florida’s ban on gender-affirming care for children once and for all. The district judge ruled the restrictions were unconstitutional, and DeSantis and Florida Republicans weren’t acting in the interest of public health.
“Enforcing this moral view is not, however, a legitimate state interest that can sustain this statute,” the judge wrote.
Many of “Meatball Ron’s” signature, homophobic initiatives have been clawed back in the wake of his embarrassing campaign. Notably, he admitted failure on his school book bans, acknowledging the initiative created unnecessary chaos.
“The idea that someone can use the parents rights and the curriculum transparency to start objecting to every single book to try to make a mockery of this is just wrong,” he said. “That’s performative. That’s political.”
Ding! Ding!
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Ron “Don’t Say Gay” DeSantis is working overtime to dial back his “anti-woke” persona after it failed miserably
The Florida governor signed a bill Tuesday that severely curtails his infamous book ban.
Speaking of performative acts of cruelty, the scope of DeSantis’ infamous “Don’t Say Gay” legislation has been narrowed as well. While restrictions on classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity remain, teachers and students are free to discuss their own queer identities, as well as participate in LGBTQ+-focused extracurriculars, such as Gay-Straight alliance clubs.
Rather than lead Florida through a myriad of crises, including rocketing home insurance rates and the persistent dangers of climate change (he’s actually banned the term “climate change” from appearing in state documents), DeSantis and his administration have spent a lot of time in court. Back in June, one of the state’s former top law enforcement officials filed a lawsuit against Florida, claiming he was fired for blowing the whistle on illegal orders.
DeSantis also recently made concessions in the settlements of multiple lawsuits involving the state and Disney.
Apparently unfazed, the hard-right governor is still exercising cruelty towards his most vulnerable constituents. This summer, he rejected a federal food aid program known as Sun Bucks, which would have provided disadvantaged families $120 per child to help pay for groceries during June, July and August while schools are out.
Though one in five kids in Florida faces hunger, DeSantis dismissed the federal program as “welfare benefits.” With the deadline for the 2025 program less than two weeks ago, those who care about hungry children are worried that DeSantis will opt out of the initiative again.
“It’s atrocious that the governor would even think about not accepting any type of help,” said the mayor of North Miami, Alix Desulme.
When explaining their ambivalence towards hungry kids, administration officials point to the $13 million it would cost to implement the program… $13 million out of a projected $17 billion budget surplus.
While DeSantis is busy polishing his far-right bonafides, Florida residents are suffering. New data shows almost half the state’s 8.8 million households are struggling to afford the cost of living.
flordia looks like a third world country today after ron desantis refused federal money from joe biden to improve infrastructure because it was "woke" pic.twitter.com/D4B51wZPii
— Right Wing Cope (@RightWingCope) August 7, 2024
When DeSantis ran for president, it was amusing to mock his high heels and incredible awkwardness. He struggled to communicate with humans on the campaign trail, presenting himself as a weird, Heritage Foundation-created cyborg.
“What is that? An icee? That’s probably a lot of sugar, huh?”
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) July 27, 2023
Ron DeSantis to a child in Iowa.
Perfection. No notes. Beyond parody. https://t.co/qWlOBKY7rA
What do you notice in this video of Ron DeSantis? pic.twitter.com/V7K8w1WDVO
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) October 29, 2023
this makes me so uncomfortablepic.twitter.com/qrhv7f2ZiK
— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) May 16, 2023
But his inhumanity towards marginalized communities is no laughing matter. DeSantis’ gubernatorial term lasts through 2026, and there will likely be many more scandals and court dates in his future.
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Mary Trump and Rosie O’Donnell offer their take on Donald Trump’s bumbling press conference
A former Trump aide says yesterday’s press conference was a sign Trump is “panicking”.
abfab
His clod-hoppers are also falling apart.
abfab
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday ordered state agencies to prepare to help Northeast Ohio communities affected this week’s severe storms.
Nearly 3 days after storm, they should “prepare to help”?
Has he gotten off the couch since the storm came through?
Kangol2
Twinkletoes just keeps
failing. Thankfully he’s
term-limited.
abfab
ARIZONA FOR HARRIS/WALZ!
Another spectacular rally.
Invader7
Loser all the way. DeSantis’ crazed agenda is FAILING ! And to top it off he denies marginal income children food !! Hell is waiting for him…