Gov. Ron DeSantis Signs Several Anti-LGBTQ Bills In Advance Of Run For Prez

Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida signed four anti-LGBTQ bills into law today as he preps for the impending announcement that he will be running for the Republican nomination for president. According to The Advocate, the new laws include an expansion of “don’t say gay,” a ban on gender-affirming care (which DeSantis calls “mutilation”), restrictions on trans people’s bathroom use, and restrictions on drag shows. https://twitter.com/TheAdvocateMag/status/1658861338582458371 More from the New York Times:

It was his third consecutive day of holding public bill-signing ceremonies across the state.

The ceremonies, which he hosts in his official capacity as governor, allow Mr. DeSantis to promote his political message in settings that he carefully stage-manages as a veritable M.C., calling up additional speakers and then thanking them for their contributions. 

These events sometimes take on the feel of political rallies.

Two days ago, DeSantis signed a bill that will defund diversity and equity programs at public colleges and universities. Earlier this year, DeSantis signed a “right to discriminate” bill allowing medical providers to deny care to LGBTQ people based on moral and religious beliefs. https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1658887824647520271