TALLAHASSEE, FLA. (WSVN) - The Florida Legislature is taking up controversial bills on Tuesday that are inching closer to becoming laws.
The Florida House began debating the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill and HB5, which prohibits doctors from performing abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
With the Republican-controlled legislature, it is very likely the two bills will become law.
The “Don’t Say Gay” bill limits classroom discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through first grade classes at Florida schools.
Students from South Florida are among those lobbying lawmakers this week about one of the most controversial bills this session.
“The ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill is stretching every student’s rights and every student’s life in this State of Florida,” said one young protester.
“I’ve dealt with my fair share of bullying, and I’ve dealt with my fair share of being called names, being told I’m different from everyone else,” said Javier Gomez, an IPrep Academy student.
Seventeen-year-old Gomez believes the bill that is before the Florida Legislature will make it worse for Florida schools with LGBTQ students.
A trusted teacher is who he said helped him go through a rough patch.
“I didn’t come to terms with who I am because I did not have that atmosphere where I can go and be ‘I am Gay,'” said Gomez. “It kind of promotes an atmosphere for kids to bully and for kids to be silenced.”
Both the House and Senate versions have been making their way through committees and will likely be approved by both Republican-controlled houses.
“So if a question is asked, does that mean that the teacher should not respond to that child, based on the law that we’re about to pass?” said Sen. Shevrin D. Jones (D), West Park, Senate Education Committee Vice Chair.
“You might oughta say, ‘Ask your mother,'” replied Sen. Dennis Baxley (R), Lady Lake. “I don’t think that it’s the school teacher’s responsibility to embrace every single question in that way.”
The bill’s sponsor released a video on social media that said, “The bill is designed to keep school districts safe from talking about these topics before kids are ready to process them. I don’t think it’s controversial to empower parents.”
The other measure expected to become a law is the ban on abortions after 15 weeks.
Florida currently allows abortions up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.
As written now, there are no exceptions for rape or incest.
“Fifteen weeks gives Florida it’s best opportunity to save a significant number of babies very quickly after the court’s decision,” said State Rep. Erin Grall (R), Vero Beach.
The 15-week ban is similar to a Mississippi law that is now before the U.S. Supreme Court.
“Representative, are there any medical groups that you know of that support this type of legislation?” asked State Rep. Kristen Arrington (D), Kississmee.
“I didn’t seek the support of any medical groups for this legislation,” said Grall.
“So does the bill contemplate the cost of travel of that person that might have to find another option if Florida can’t be available for their personal decision?” asked State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D), Orlando.
“The premise behind the bill is to end late term abortions and not to fund later term abortions in another state,” said Grall.
House Democrats have come up with a long list of amendments.
“We’re going to continue to fight to see if we can amend the bill, to make a really terrible bill a little bit better and make some accommodations of rape and incest,” said Sen. Lauren Book (D), Plantation.
But they said their expectations are not high.
“Some of us women, we have failed the women of Florida because we came here to be a voice for the women,” said State Rep. Marie Woodsen (D), Hollywood.
“It’s a joke to make it look like a compromise. You know, we had a patient just three weeks ago who didn’t find out she was pregnant until 19 weeks because she was homeless, and she has no access to healthcare,” said Annie Filkowski of Florida Alliance and Planned Parenthood Affiliates. “I am not lost on that we don’t know the numbers. We have to stand up, and we have to fight, and we’re going to make noise.”
Republicans said the bill as it is is not extreme.
“I think recognizing that this is a baby, and at 15 weeks, those babies have eyelashes and eyebrows and fingers and all of those types of things, we want to make sure that if someone is going to make a determination, they make it early on in that decision, not later,” said Sen. Kelli Stargel (R), LakeLand.
“You don’t get some of those really serious scans until 20 weeks,” said Book. “You’ve passed the point that they’ve now set up arbitrarily as the 15-week ban. Then you can’t make decisions about what that looks like.”
“I think that it is a very reasonable bill that tries to find that middle ground for, really, for all Floridians and you’re always going to find something someone can argue against, but in general I think this is very reasonable,” said Rep. Alex Rizo (R), Hialeah.
7News spoke to some pro-choice activists that said they don’t believe the ban is reasonable and plan to rally Wednesday at the Florida House.
The abortion ban bill could potentially go to the floor of the House and approved as early as Wednesday.
As of Tuesday evening, the “Don’t Say Gay” bill is still making its way through committees.
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