Ron DeSantis Wants To Remind You He's Still A Horrible Bigoted Autocrat

[Zorro]

New law lets governor remove local elected officials for 'promoting' Pride or DEI.

In its perpetual battle to out-crazy Texas (and Idaho, which often punches above its weight in rightwing crazy), the Florida Legislature on Tuesday passed a bill aimed at banning local governments from doing diversity, equity, and inclusion, including (and especially) a prohibition on anything “promoting” or “adopting” activities that recognize the existence of LGBTQ+ people. Assuming DeSantis signs it — I mean, come on — the law would go into effect January 1, 2027, and would immediately eliminate any local laws, ordinances, programs, policies, or refrigerator magnets related to “DEI,” including those related to LGBTQ+ people.

The bill includes a provision allowing residents to sue local governments, too, which could result in cities having to defend themselves at great cost from some prick who has a tizzy over seeing a Pride flag or anything with a rainbow on it. For all we know, it might lead to lawsuits seeking damage payments from women employed by municipal governments if they’re spotted driving a Subaru Forester or playing softball.

The Lege even included an extra bit of power we’re sure DeSantis would love to have, but which he can’t exercise because term limits make this his last year in office, barring a coup. But his successor as governor will be able to remove from office any elected official they deem to be in violation of the new anti-DEI law, just by signing an executive order to suspend them, no court or other hearing necessary. A suspended local official could appeal to the Florida Senate, but good luck, since it has a GOP supermajority.

As Erin Reed explains, the bill, Florida SB 1134, is a nasty dog’s breakfast of a thing, deliberately vague so it can be waved threateningly at local leaders who might defy the whims of a Republican governor (don’t be silly, Democrats won’t be allowed to win that office ever again).

https://www.wonkette.com/p/ron-desantis-wants-to-remind-you

[Stuckinthebush]

1. My god this is a dystopian nightmare!

What fucking dimension of reality did we fall into?