Florida GOP Pushes New Legislation on ‘Gender Identity’ and Sexual Orientation

One of the proposed laws seeks to make public accusations of discrimination as ‘defamation by default.’

Members and supporters of the LGBT community attend the "Say Gay Anyway" rally in Miami Beach, Fla., on March 13, 2022. Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images

After passing laws in 2023 that prohibited “gender identity” and sexual orientation instructions in early school grades and limited bathroom access to biological sex, the Florida GOP is pushing a new wave of legislation in 2024 that further addresses these topics.

Republican lawmakers filed a bill that prohibits government workers and contractors from being forced to use preferred pronouns within the workplace while protecting employees from penalties for their religious beliefs or convictions, including ideas regarding biological sex.