ORLANDO, FL – In response to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” laws, students in a Florida school district will study only excerpts from William Shakespeare’s plays instead of reading the full texts as part of redesigned curriculum guides. The changes made to the Hillsborough County Public Schools’ curriculum were influenced by Florida’s new laws that restrict classroom discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity. Additionally, the alterations were motivated by revised state standards and an effort to encourage students to read a diverse range of books for new state exams.
Some Shakespeare plays contain suggestive language and innuendo, with implications of premarital sex in “Romeo and Juliet.” While Shakespeare’s works will still be available for students to borrow from media centers at schools in the Tampa area, the decision to teach only excerpts was made to align with state standards and current law.
This move in Tampa is the latest development stemming from laws enacted by Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature, championed by GOP Governor Ron DeSantis over the past two years.
In a separate instance in Lake County, outside Orlando, the school district reversed a decision made due to the legislation, which initially restricted access to a popular children’s book about a male penguin couple raising a chick. The School Board of Lake County and Florida education officials have asked a federal judge to dismiss a First Amendment lawsuit filed by students and the authors of the book “And Tango Makes Three.” The lawsuit challenged the restrictions and Florida’s new laws.
The lawsuit was rendered moot as age restrictions on “And Tango Makes Three” were lifted following a memo from the Florida Department of Education, clarifying that the new law applied solely to classroom instruction and not school libraries.
The “Don’t Say Gay” legislation has sparked conflicts, including one between Disney and Governor DeSantis. The College Board also resisted altering its Advanced Placement psychology course to comply with Florida’s new laws, as it includes content related to gender and sexual orientation.
As students prepare to return to school in various districts, it remains unclear whether modifications to courses will be necessary to adhere to Florida’s rules.