In a stirring interview, Kamala Harris calls Florida's Don't Say Gay law "outrageous."

In a stirring interview, Kamala Harris calls Florida's Don't Say Gay law "outrageous."

Jun 25 Emily Chudy's article

Biden, Joe Vice President Kamala Harris called the effects of Florida's divisive "Don't Say Gay" law "outrageous" in a statement. (Getty Pictures))

The contentious 'Don't Say Gay' law in Florida has had "outrageous" results, according to vice president Kamala Harris.

Harris expressed her opinions on a number of LGBTQ+ issues, including the oppressive Don't Say Gay law, the Respect for Marriage act, and the surge in anti-LGBTQ+ laws across the US, in a stirring interview with Advocate magazine on Wednesday (21 June).

"You look at Florida, the Don't Say Gay bill, and what this has meant for LGBTQ+ teachers who are now afraid," the vice president remarked.

She continued by calling it "outrageous" that due to the law, which prohibits discussion of LGBTQ+ themes in schools throughout the state, some queer teachers in Florida now fear losing their jobs.

Harris remarked, "I'm looking at this twenty-something Florida teacher who has dedicated [themselves] to one of the most honorable professions.

And the teacher who is happily married or in a committed relationship is hesitant to hang a picture of their family because they worry that if a kid in their class asks, "Who is that?," it will spark a discussion about same-sex relationships and they risk losing their job. Outrageous!”

In other interviews, Harris has criticized the Florida bill, branding Republicans as "extremists" in 2022 and asserting that "younger Americans have more at stake than any other population."

Harris claimed she "hates bullies" in reference to the rise of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation more generally in the US, where more than 500 laws regulating everything from drag to gender-affirming care were introduced in 2023 alone.

The US vice-president said to Advocate, "I can't take it when so-called powerful individuals deliberately try to strike fear in innocent people.

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Simply put, "We just have to make sure that this moment is motivating people to act and not motivating people to be afraid."

The Respect for Marriage Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in December 2022 to safeguard Americans' right to same-sex marriage and inter-racial unions, was also discussed in the conversation.

Harris argued that "nobody should be forced to fight alone."

"Our president has also been at the forefront of this issue for a very long time, so to be with him on the stage where there is a mutual recognition of what this means in terms of our shared commitment to this issue, that also meant a lot," she continued.

As a result of Roe v. Wade, which established the constitutional right to abortion, being repealed last year, Harris emphasized that fighting for LGBTQ+ rights also involves fighting for abortion rights and against racism. She asserted that "attacks on identity" are related.

"The intersection on the issue of reproductive care and trans care, and the ability of families to be able to have care for their children and their families, is really, again, an intersection around attacks that are on an identity," Harris stated.

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"You see an increase in racism, white supremacy, and misogynistic rhetoric alone," the speaker said. A large portion of it genuinely consists of criticizing people for what they are and desire to be.

It takes nothing from you to let people be, Harris continued, to those who are anti-LGBTQ+.

"From my vantage point, I can assure you that knocking people down is not the ultimate test of strength. It depends on who you elevate.

The Equality Act was reintroduced in Congress yesterday. To ensure that each and every LGBTQI+ American has the freedom to live their lives openly and freely, the House and Senate must enact this long-overdue legislation.