On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law the “Parental Rights in Education” bill which bans teaching children in kindergarten through third grade about “sexual orientation and gender identity.” If you thought the bill’s final passage meant the media would stop freaking out about it, think again. All three evening news broadcasts labeled the banning of sex talk with five-year-olds “controversial” during their coverage.
On ABC’s World News Tonight, correspondent Victor Oquendo continued mislabeling the legislation as the “controversial” “don’t say gay bill” despite the fact that not only does the word gay not appear anywhere in the text of the legislation but it doesn’t prevent children from using the word.
It wasn’t until later that he used the law’s real name when finally describing what the law actually does:
The parental rights in education law now banning classroom instruction on ‘sexual orientation or gender identity’ in grades K through three, and any instruction ‘That is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate’. It's now up to the state to update and define those standards. The law also allowing parents to sue school districts that violate these policies.
He also parroted “critics” of the law without any fact-checking on his part, claiming they “argue it will marginalize LGBTQ families and prevent schools from helping students in need.”
Meanwhile, over on CBS Evening News, anchor Norah O’Donnell briefly covered the news that DeSantis signed the bill. Just like her ABC counterpart, she also labeled the law “controversial” and parroted left-wing talking points, claiming “critics call it the don't say gay bill and say it marginalizes LGBTQ+ people.”
NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt referred to the law as "contentious" before turning to correspondent Sam Brock for on the scene reporting from Florida. Brock announced that "after weeks of controversy, Governor Ron DeSantis today signed the parental rights in education bill" and noted that the Florida Governor was "surrounded by young children" while signing the bill.
Much like the other ABC, Brock actually summarized the purpose of the bill noting that "the law bans classroom instruction and conversation about sexual orientation and gender identity for public school students in kindergarten through third grade."
Brock then rehashed a familiar leftist media talking point that wanting to protect young children from being sexually groomed is somehow waging a "culture war":
The legislation which has been referred to by opponents as the “don’t say gay bill” has sparked national outrage, today the Governor and potential 2024 presidential candidate, once again putting himself at the forefront of America's culture wars. Supporters say the law let parents determine when and how to introduce LGBTQ topics to their children.
He wasn't done, after that he brought in a Democrat candidate for state office in Florida and allowed him to claim that the law would "communicate to our youth and to the country that Florida isn't the place for you, if you are different."
Brock ended his report by bemoaning how "around fifteen states from Tennessee to Louisiana are now considering legislation, looking at how LGBTQ issues are addressed in the classroom."
The horror! Fifteen more states will soon make grooming young children illegal.
This apparent support for the sexual grooming of five-year-old children by the three networks was made possible by the endorsement of Salonpas on ABC, Crest on CBS, and Prevagen on NBC. Their information is linked so you can let them know about the kind of programming they fund.
To read the relevant transcript of each segment click "expand":
ABC’s World News Tonight
3/28/2022
6:45:39 p.m. EasternDAVID MUIR: Now to Florida tonight, where Governor Ron DeSantis has signed that bill into law banning instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity with younger children through third grade. ABC's Victor Oquendo in Florida tonight.
GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: Show it off, official.
VICTOR OQUENDO: Tonight, it's official. Florida's controversial don't say gay bill, as it's known by critics, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis.
DESANTIS: We will make sure that parents can send their kids to school to get an education, not an indoctrination.
OQUENDO: The parental rights in education law now banning classroom instruction on "Sexual orientation or gender identity" in grades K through three, and any instruction "That is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate." It's now up to the state to update and define those standards. The law also allowing parents to sue school districts that violate these policies.
PROTESTERS: We say gay!
OQUENDO: The bill sparking protests for weeks.
PROTESTERS: We say gay!
OQUENDO: Critics argue it will marginalize LGBTQ families and prevent schools from helping students in need. Democratic state Senate candidate Janelle Perez and her wife Monica have two daughters, one starting in Kindergarten this fall.
JANELLE PEREZ: My daughters are going to be raised to be incredibly proud of our family, and we will never be silenced. We will never be forced to hide in plain sight.
OQUENDO: And the law is expected to go into effect on July 1st. David?
CBS Evening News
3/28/2022
6:43:40 p.m. EasternNORAH O’DONNELL: All right, a controversial bill became law today in Florida. The Republican Governor signed the measure that bans lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in Kindergarten through third grade. Critics call it the don't say gay bill and say it marginalizes LGBTQ+ people. Governor DeSantis and other Republicans claim that the law is reasonable.
NBC Nightly News
3/28/2022
7:11:58 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: In Florida, the Governor today signed a contentious bill that restricts teaching about gender identity and sexuality in elementary schools. And more states are pursuing similar laws. Sam Brock has that story tonight.
SAM BROCK: After weeks of controversy, Governor Ron DeSantis today signed the parental rights in education bill surrounded by young children. The law bans classroom instruction and conversation about sexual orientation and gender identity for public school students in kindergarten through third grade.
GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS: And after third grade, those curriculums need to be age-appropriate.
BROCK: The law also gives parents the ability to wield civil lawsuits if they feel the policy is violated.
PROTESTERS: We say gay!
BROCK: The legislation which has been referred to by opponents as the “don’t say gay bill” has sparked national outrage, today the Governor and potential 2024 presidential candidate, once again putting himself at the forefront of America's culture wars. Supporters say the law let parents determine when and how to introduce LGBTQ topics to their children.
DESANTIS: We will make sure that parents can send their kids to school to get an education not an indoctrination.
BROCK: Todd Delmay is running for state office in light of recent legislation.
TODD DELMAY: This bill will not stay in effect forever, but it will be in effect long enough to communicate to our youth and to the country that Florida isn't the place for you, if you are different.
BROCK: He and his husband Jeff and their 12-year-old son worry this is a step backwards for equal rights.
DELMAY: There's people my age that grew up not having any acknowledgment that people like us even existed in the world.
(...)
BROCK: Around fifteen states from Tennessee to Louisiana are now considering legislation, looking at how LGBTQ issues are addressed in the classroom.
