‘Stigmatizes our family’: St. Johns parents part of federal suit against Florida law

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — A gay couple in St. Johns County is listed as plaintiffs in an 80-page federal complaint filed against the Parental Rights in Education law, or as critics call it, the ”Don’t Say Gay” law.

The law prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten through third grade. It goes into effect July 1.

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The suit claims the law is “an unlawful attempt to stigmatize, silence, and erase LGBTQ people in Florida’s public schools.”

The VanTices are celebrating their 15 wedding anniversary this year and adopted two 7-year-old boys who attend school in St. Johns County.

“We worked very hard to bring our family to fruition,” Brent VanTice said. “We went down many roads and had many journeys start and stop on the way to our family.”

Brent said the fight isn’t over. The challenge filed in Tallahassee on behalf of several gay rights advocates, including Equality Florida and Family Equality last week, claims the law violates free speech of students and families.

“It was very clear that this bill was a direct attack on LGBTQ people in the community and families,” Dan VanTice said.

He added that their first grade sons have already felt the impact. “He goes, ‘Papa are we going to be able to talk about our family at school with my friends anymore?’”

Florida is at the center of the culture war that prompted the mayor of New York City to launch billboards in five Florida cities, including Jacksonville

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One billboard reads, “Come to the city where you can say whatever you want.”

Action News Jax’s Robert Grant asked if this law has pushed the VanTices to consider a move.

“This is where my roots are,” Dan VanTice said. “I grew up here, and I think my kids should have a right to grow up here as well.”

He said the complaint is part of their fight for what’s right.

Action News Jax reached out to the governor’s office for a response. In an emailed statement, a spokesperson called the suit a political Hail Mary and said it had many “erroneous claims.”

“This law does not chill speech — instead it returns speech on these topics to the parents,” said Taryn Fenske, the governor’s communications director.

“The law does not prohibit student-prompted discussion in the classroom. The law does not prohibit teachers from having opinions, lifestyles, or advocacy in their personal right on their own time, and this law does not prohibit teachers from responding to student questions. This calculated, politically motivated, virtue-signaling lawsuit is meritless, and we will defend the legality of parents to protect their young children from sexual content in Florida public schools.”

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