Florida’s new parental rights law may be controversial within much of the mainstream media, but it’s not so contentious among Americans, according to a new survey.
The poll, conducted March 25-28, found that registered voters in the United States support the new law by a more than 2-to-1 margin when read key language from its text.
It was dubbed the “don’t say gay bill” by opponents, although Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other supporters have pushed back on such descriptions, saying they are deceitful. DeSantis signed the bill into law.
The Public Opinion Strategies survey found that 61 percent of registered voters back the law while 26 percent oppose it. Support was found across the ideological spectrum, including among majorities of Republicans, Democrats, independents, Biden voters and even among Americans who know someone who identifies as LGBTQ.
“When Americans are presented with the actual language of the new Florida law, it wins support by more than a two‐to‐one margin,” an analysis of the survey said. “Voters across partisan lines strongly support the new Florida law after being provided with the actual language of the bill.”
Registered voters were read this section of the bill: “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”
Among the poll’s findings:
- Republicans support it 70 percent to 23 percent, with Trump 2020 voters backing it by the same percentage.
- Democrats back it (55-29 percent) as do Biden 2020 voters (53-30 percent) and independents (58-26 percent).
- Parents (67-24 percent), suburban voters (60-30 percent) and those who know someone who is LGBTQ (61-28 percent) all support the new law.
The poll of 1,000 registered voters was released the same week DeSantis signed the bill into law.
Related:
DeSantis Blasts Media, Says LGBT Bill Protects Only K-3rd Grades
DeSantis Signs Bill Banning Instruction on LGBT Issues in K-3rd Grade Classrooms
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Lucky Business
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
