GOP's Haley says Florida 'Don't Say Gay' law too weak
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley this week indicated that a controversial Florida law restricting the discussion of sexuality and gender-related topics with younger students does not go far enough.
"When I was in school you didn’t have sex ed until seventh grade. And even then, your parents had to sign whether you could take the class. That’s a decision for parents to make," Haley said at a town hall in New Hampshire, Fox News reported.
Florida's Parental Rights in Education law includes a provision barring teachers from instructing students from grades K-3 on such matters.
"Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in Kindergarten through third grade or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards," the bill reads.
"I’m sorry, I don’t think that goes far enough," Haley opined on the law, indicating that sex education ought to begin later.
"I just think that third grade’s too young. We should not be talking to kids in elementary school about gender, period," she told Fox after the event. "And if you are going to talk to kids about it, you need to get the parents' permission to do that. That is something between a parent and a child. That is not something that schools need to be teaching."
Haley contended that Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has thus far been a "good governor" but encouraged more forceful legislation on the matter of sexual education for younger students.
Her remarks came the same week that a federal judge tossed a suit challenging the Florida law.
Her comments may further be an effort to differentiate herself from the Florida governor, who is also a possible presidential candidate in 2024. At present, however, only Haley and former President Donald Trump have declared their candidacies for the GOP nomination.
Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.