The state university system Board of Governors on Wednesday took a step in carrying out a controversial new law that includes requiring designation of restrooms for “exclusive use by females” and “exclusive use by males.” Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the law in May, amid a series of measures in Florida …
Read More »Federal appeal of Florida education law put on hold
TALLAHASSEE — A federal appeals court has put on hold a battle about a 2022 Florida law that restricts instruction about gender identity and sexual orientation in schools, after attorneys said they were in settlement talks. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week issued a stay of an …
Read More »“It’s not perfect”: Alachua County School Board amends draft of LGBTQ guide, accounts for new state laws
The Alachua County School Board presented a draft of its new LGBTQ guide to about 40 people Tuesday, with several public commenters pushing for safer standards for queer youth. The guide has been months in the making after its predecessor was removed last year and revised in February when the …
Read More »State Board of Education approves a college bathroom rule
Florida public colleges will be required to update policies on restrooms and changing rooms to have separate facilities “based on biological sex at birth,” under a rule approved Wednesday by the State Board of Education. The rule, which applies to the 28 schools in the state college system, stems from …
Read More »Jaguars associate strength coach Kevin Maxen comes out as gay in a first for US-based pro leagues
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Kevin Maxen, an associate strength coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars, has become the first male coach in a major U.S.-based professional league to come out as gay. Maxen spoke about his sexual orientation in an interview published Thursday by Outsports. “I don’t want to feel like I have …
Read More »‘Preposterous’: Disney CEO disputes DeSantis’ assertions
TALLAHASSEE — Disney CEO Bob Iger dismissed as “preposterous” arguments by Gov. Ron DeSantis that the company is “sexualizing children” or experiencing a drop in attendance at its Florida resorts because of a long-running fight with the governor. Appearing Thursday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Iger also defended the company’s right …
Read More »DeSantis defends anti-LGBTQ video shared by his campaign and calls it a ‘fair game’ attack on Trump
NEW YORK — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is defending an anti-LGBTQ video his campaign shared online that attacks rival Donald Trump for his past support of gay and transgender people, despite some of his fellow Republicans calling it homophobic. DeSantis, in an interview Wednesday on the podcast of conservative commentator Tomi Lahren, did not …
Read More »Federal judge rejects Florida’s ban on Medicaid coverage on gender-affirming care
TALLAHASSEE — Calling the state’s policy “invidious discrimination” against transgender people, a federal judge ruled that Florida’s prohibition against Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care such as puberty blockers and hormone therapy is unconstitutional. U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle’s ruling Wednesday largely echoed a decision he issued earlier this month in …
Read More »Pulse nightclub victims remembered on 7th anniversary of massacre
ORLANDO, Fla. — Across central Florida, the 49 victims killed and dozens more survivors of the massacre at a gay-friendly nightclub were remembered with the unveiling of a 44-foot (13.4-meter) -wide mural, the ringing of church bells and an overnight vigil at the site of the Pulse club on Monday, …
Read More »Alachua County Sports & Events Center hosts grand opening and open house
It was dribble, hop, throw and run on Saturday as the Alachua County Sports & Events Center celebrated its grand opening at Celebration Pointe. With the private-public partnership between Alachua County and Viking Companies, LLC., the Celebration Pointe developer, a dream was made real. “Whatever your mind can see to …
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