Lawyers for a group of parents, students, and nonprofits have asked a federal judge to stop school districts from enforcing a controversial state law restricting education about gender identity and sexual orientation.

On Friday, attorneys filed a preliminary injunction against the Orange, Indian River, Duval and Palm Beach County Boards of Education in a lawsuit that began in July.

The 26-page motion passed the Republican-controlled Congress this year and was signed into law by Gov. There is.” ”

It asserted violations of rights of speech, equal protection, and due process, and pointed to the steps taken by school districts to comply with the law (HB 1557).

“HB 1557 is, by design, a deterrent to speech by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and school interrogators,” the motion states. “To this end, the law employs undefined terms that restrict an absurdly wide range of speech and activity, with widespread chilling effects and a lack of support for school officials as they attempt to enforce the law. forced to draw arbitrary and discriminatory lines on

The law, which has received national attention, bans education on gender identity and sexual orientation in grades kindergarten through third grade, and prohibits such education in grades ‘age-appropriate…according to state academic standards.’ We are obliged to educate.

Republican lawmakers named the bill the “Parents’ Rights in Education” bill. Opponents called it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Opponents also challenged the constitutionality of the measure in a federal lawsuit filed in Tallahassee against the State Board of Education, the Florida Department of Education, Board of Education Manny Diaz Jr., and several school boards. I am disputing. That lawsuit is pending.

The lawsuit against the Orange, Indian River, Duval and Palm Beach county boards of education was filed July 25 in federal court in Orlando. It was assigned to U.S. District Judge Wendy Berger, who was nominated to the federal court by former President Donald Trump after serving as a state appeals and circuit judge.

Attorneys for four school boards have not filed an initial allegation in the case. Arguing that it has the right to set the curriculum, it objected that “Congress acted out of hostility to LGBTQ individuals.”

“This bill does not reflect the government’s preference for what students should learn about sexual orientation and gender identity,” state attorneys wrote in their motion to dismiss the lawsuit. “These subjects need to be taught properly and, for the youngest children, may be taught by parents rather than in public school classrooms. It is in the legitimate[state’s]interest.”

Plaintiffs in the Orlando lawsuit include Jen and Matt Cousins, parents of four children who attend Orange County schools. Will Larkins, a senior at Winter Park High School in Orange County and president of the school’s Queer Student Union; David Dinan and Vik Gongidi are a same-sex couple with two children in Indian River County school. Her CenterLink, Inc., a nonprofit with members such as his LGTBQ community centers in Orange, Duval, and Palm Beach counties.

They are represented by lawyers from the Lambda Legal Defense and Education Foundation, Southern Counsel, Southern Poverty Law Center, and Baker McKenzie International Law Firm.

In Friday’s motion for a preliminary injunction, they brought up a series of arguments. Among them is that the law violates the First Amendment by making speech “inexcusably cold” and unconstitutionally broad and vague.

They also noted the steps the school district has taken to comply with the law. As examples, they wrote, the Duval, Indian River, and Palm Beach school districts have reduced or eliminated LGBTQ student support guides and anti-bullying guidance.

“In (Palm Beach County District), professional development workshops on LGBTQ+ issues were suspended, and many districts either removed books with LGBTQ+ characters for K-12 students or removed them under HB 1557. It’s being reviewed,” the motion said.

“Teachers are encouraged to avoid anything that might provoke discussion about LGBTQ+ people, and are cold-hearted in supporting LGBTQ+ students and student groups. Organizations that have provided training and other services to schools are being prevented from completing their work.”

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