Ron DeSantis has positioned himself as a conservative warrior, but many of his policies are seen as regressive, especially concerning LGBTQ+ rights, race relations, and women’s rights. Here are 21 ways his administration is taking Florida backward:
1. Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation
DeSantis has supported and signed multiple anti-LGBTQ+ bills, including the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill. This law restricts discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, marginalizing LGBTQ+ students and staff.
2. Banning Transgender Athletes
Under DeSantis, Florida passed legislation banning transgender athletes from participating in school sports consistent with their gender identity. This discriminatory policy has sparked nationwide outrage and legal battles.
3. Limiting Gender-Affirming Care
DeSantis has moved to restrict access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth, undermining their right to essential medical care and mental health support.
4. Attacks on Critical Race Theory
DeSantis has led a campaign against the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in schools despite CRT not being part of the K-12 curriculum. This move stifles education on systemic racism and its impacts on society.
5. Eroding Voting Rights
DeSantis has signed laws that make voting more difficult, particularly for minority communities. Measures include restricting mail-in ballots and limiting the use of drop boxes, which disproportionately affects Black and Latino voters.
6. Restricting Protests
Following the Black Lives Matter protests, DeSantis pushed through legislation that increased penalties for protesting, a clear attempt to suppress civil rights activism and free speech.
7. Opposition to Police Reform
DeSantis has resisted calls for police reform, defending law enforcement practices that disproportionately affect communities of color. His stance ignores the urgent need for accountability and reform.
8. Anti-Immigrant Policies
DeSantis has taken a hardline stance on immigration, supporting measures that target undocumented immigrants and restrict their rights, contributing to a climate of fear and hostility.
9. Rolling Back Reproductive Rights
DeSantis has signed legislation that severely restricts abortion access, including a ban on abortions after 15 weeks with no exceptions for rape or incest, significantly undermining women’s reproductive rights.
10. Attacking Women’s Health Services
Beyond abortion, DeSantis’s policies have targeted Planned Parenthood and other providers of women’s health services, limiting access to essential healthcare for many Floridians.
11. Defunding Diversity Programs
DeSantis has worked to defund diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in state institutions, undermining efforts to create more inclusive environments in schools and workplaces.
12. Ignoring Climate Change
DeSantis has downplayed the threat of climate change and rolled back environmental protections, which disproportionately affect marginalized communities that are often hit hardest by environmental disasters.
13. Opposing Minimum Wage Increases
DeSantis has opposed efforts to raise the minimum wage, which would significantly benefit low-income workers, many of whom are women and people of color.
14. Criminalizing Poverty
DeSantis’s administration has supported policies that criminalize homelessness and poverty, such as increased penalties for panhandling and sleeping in public spaces, further marginalizing vulnerable populations.
15. Educational Censorship
DeSantis has pushed for educational censorship, banning books and educational materials that discuss LGBTQ+ issues, racism, and other critical social topics, limiting students’ access to comprehensive education.
16. Promoting Voter Suppression
DeSantis has promoted and enacted laws that suppress voter turnout, particularly among minority communities, through stringent voter ID requirements and reducing early voting days.
17. Ignoring COVID-19 Disparities
During the COVID-19 pandemic, DeSantis’s policies often ignored the disproportionate impact of the virus on communities of color, failing to provide targeted support and resources.
18. Blocking Medicaid Expansion
DeSantis has blocked Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, which would have provided healthcare access to hundreds of thousands of low-income Floridians, disproportionately benefiting women and minorities.
19. Undermining Public Education
DeSantis’s focus on privatizing education and expanding charter schools undermines public education, which serves a majority of minority and low-income students.
20. Redistricting for Political Gain
DeSantis has supported gerrymandering efforts that dilute the voting power of minority communities, ensuring that political representation remains skewed.
21. Attacking Labor Rights
DeSantis has supported legislation that weakens labor rights, including efforts to dismantle public sector unions, which often advocate for better working conditions and pay for women and minority workers.
Progress or Regress?
While DeSantis portrays himself as a defender of conservative values, many see his policies as a direct attack on the rights and freedoms of LGBTQ+ individuals, racial minorities, and women. Is this really the direction Florida should be heading?
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Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Andrew Cline.
