Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law bills Wednesday that would ban gender-affirming care for minors, target drag shows, limit discussion of preferred pronouns in schools and force people to use certain restrooms.

DeSantis has made anti-LGBTQ+ legislation a big part of his agenda as he prepares for the Republican presidential nomination. He signed the bills in front of a cheering crowd at the evangelical Cambridge Christian School in Tampa. The ceremony had the feel of a campaign rally, with DeSantis throwing

pensSharpies

in front of a crowd, unlike when he signed into law on abortion and gun rights

in private.

Democrats opposed the bills and LGBTQ+ rallies were held at the Capitol during the session that ended two weeks ago, but Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers and easily passed the bills before DeSantis’ signature.

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It’s kind of sad that we even have some of these discussions, DeSantis told the crowd, standing behind a lectern with a sign that read Let Kids Be Kids.

DeSantis presented a story that expert panels in the country’s top medical societies have said is false, such as the idea that children are routinely mutilated. While he said he protects the rights of parents, his detractors say he denies the rights of parents with transgender children.

They’ve disguised themselves as the party of less government and parental rights, and what we’re seeing now is the opposite, said Democratic state senator Shevrin Jones of Miami Gardens, who is gay. Any other parent has the right to raise their child the way they want, as long as your child is not gay, trans, or bisexual. That is freedom for some parents, but not for all parents.

The Gender Care Act also prohibits the use of state funds for gender-affirming care and imposes new restrictions on adults seeking treatment.

Transgender medical treatment for children and teens has come under increasing attack in many states and has recently been subject to restrictions or outright bans. But it has been available in the United States for more than a decade and is endorsed by major medical associations as appropriate care for people diagnosed with gender dysphoria. Their guidelines in general

avoid exclusion

surgery for minors.

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Treatment usually begins with an evaluation of the distress caused when gender identity does not match a person’s assigned sex. With parental consent, persistent dysphoria can be treated with hormones, but usually not until age 16. The guidelines also say that surgery should be reserved for people 18 and older.

But DeSantis spoke with applause at the signing of the bill.

We’ve never done this in all of human history until about two weeks ago? Is this a thing now? Do they let third graders explain pronouns? Don’t do the pronoun Olympics in Florida, DeSantis said.

The gender-affirming care ban and the law on drag shows take effect immediately. The bathroom restrictions and the law prohibiting schools from forcing children to list their preferred personal title or pronouns go into effect July 1.

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Jones said the governor’s choice of location showed the unpopularity of his campaign platform.

If he’s so confident in his policies, don’t hide behind signing the bills at a Christian school or a place where you’re more likely to be praised for your bigotry, Jones said. Do it in the community.

Republic Rep. Brevard County’s Randy Fine, who sponsored the ban on gender-affirming care for minors, invoked his religion to defend the state’s actions.

God doesn’t make mistakes with our children, Fine said.

Jones called Fine’s view of the Bible disingenuous.

“If someone uses scripture in the same breath and is discriminatory and hateful towards a community of people, it doesn’t work that way,” Jones said. You can’t take a book built on love and turn it around and fit it into your story.