Gov. Maura Healey tore into Ron DeSantis, saying the Florida chief’s stances on schooling have been “really shameful,” significantly his controversial “Don’t Say Gay” regulation, which the nation’s first openly-lesbian governor described as nonsense.
In a Thursday interview on GBH’s Boston Public Radio, Healey mentioned she would assist Democrat President Joe Biden if he have been to run for one more time period. She additionally characterised Gov. DeSantis, a doable 2024 Republican presidential candidate, as somebody who desires to take the nation “backwards.”
“The idea of punishing, you know, punishing people for some of the things that he talks about,” Healey mentioned. “This entire Don’t Say Gay nonsense, his positions round schooling, the canceling of coursework on African-American historical past.
“I think it’s really shameful, and it certainly does a disservice to the residents of Florida, ultimately.”
Healey, a Democrat, was referring to Florida’s controversial regulation that prohibits instructing and dialogue associated to sexual orientation and gender identification in Okay-3 public faculty lecture rooms — and later grades if this content material is taught in a fashion that isn’t age-appropriate.
The governor’s remarks comply with motion she took as lawyer common in August, when she joined 15 different AGs in submitting a lawsuit that challenged the legality of this regulation, which went into impact on July 1.
“Florida’s hate-fueled law is the censorship of LGBTQ+ issues at a time when school committees should be creating an environment that is inclusive of everyone,” Healey mentioned in an announcement on the time.
On Thursday, Healey mentioned she has the “most diverse cabinet in history,” filled with state employees who want to assist and additional the objectives of variety and inclusivity.
Healey in contrast her administration’s goal to the “denigration” she’s seen “by the likes of Ron DeSantis and others for the members of the LGBTQ community.”
“We’re going to be really strong here in Massachusetts, and making sure that people are protected and that they’re safe, and that they’re respected and given all the opportunity they deserve,” Healey mentioned.
Healey additionally referenced DeSantis, although not by identify, earlier within the interview, when describing “certain governors around this country” who want to take this nation backwards, “tear us down and tear us apart” by way of recognizing Black historical past.
“Black history is American history,” Healey mentioned. “We are going to be proud and grateful to our Black community here in Massachusetts and find ways to celebrate and support.”
She later expanded on these remarks, referencing DeSantis’ current transfer to reject the nationwide instructing of an Advanced Placement African American Studies course.
The Florida governor mentioned the course pushes a political agenda, including that his administration rejected it as a result of “we want education, not indoctrination” and since it violated the Stop WOKE Act he signed final yr, the Associated Press reported.
This regulation bars instruction that defines folks as essentially oppressed or privileged based mostly on their race, AP reported.
Last month, the College Board revised the course curriculum, eradicating sure matters just like the motion for Black lives, and students related to crucial race concept and the Black queer expertise, in accordance with an MSNBC columnist.
Healey, when requested to share her ideas on DeSantis on Boston Public Radio, remained coy at first saying that her focus was on the folks of Massachusetts, and that her mom taught her to not say something “if you can’t say something nice.”
But she later relented when talking about Massachusetts as a bedrock within the United States, which takes “seriously democracy and civil rights and protecting freedoms.”
“And that’s what we will continue to live by and aspire to in the face of some out there who want to take us backwards and that includes the likes of Gov. DeSantis,” Healey mentioned.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”