Watch the video of Miami state senator saying ‘gay is not a permanent thing’ and more

Sen. Ileana Garcia, a Miami Republican, issued an apology on Thursday after she faced criticism for saying “gay is not a permanent thing” on the Senate floor.

Garcia was debating HB 1557 — a bill that critics have dubbed the “don’t say gay” bill. The bill prohibits school lessons in kindergarten through third grade about sexual orientation and gender identity, or in other grades in ways that are not age-appropriate.

The bill, titled the “parental rights in education” bill, was approved by the Republican-dominated Legislature in early March and is expected to be signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

“How many parents want their kindergartners to have transgenderism or something injected into classroom instruction? I think those are very young kids. I think the Legislature is basically trying to give parents assurance that they are going to be able to go and that stuff is not going to be there,” DeSantis said in March.

This story was originally published March 18, 2022 at 11:30 AM.