Floridians are roughly evenly divided over the new state law restricting lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity, according to results of a Florida Atlantic University poll.

Debate over the law, formally called “Parental Rights in Education” and branded “Don’t Say Gay” by opponents, has been fierce as it was under consideration in the Legislation and approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis.

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The law prohibits classroom instruction on “sexual orientation or gender identity” in grades kindergarten through three, or higher grades if in a manner that is not “age-appropriate.”

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Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the “Parental Rights in Education” bill at Classical Preparatory school on March 28, 2022 in Shady Hills. Critics call it the “Don’t Say Gay” law. A Florida Atlantic University poll shows Republicans support the law and Democrats oppose it. (Douglas R. Clifford/AP)

The controversy deepened after the Walt Disney Co. criticized the legislation and said it would push for repeal. DeSantis and Republican legislators responded by implementing a new law that will eliminate the the Reedy Creek Improvement District, the special local government that handles zoning, roads, fire-rescue, water and sewer and other government functions in Disney World’s sprawling territory in Orange and Osceola counties.

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A Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative survey conducted this month asked: “Do you support or oppose legislation that would prohibit lessons about sexual orientation or gender identity in elementary schools?”

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State Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Broward Democrat, is hugged by state Sen. Tina Scott Polsky after Jones spoke about the “Parental Rights in Education” legislation, dubbed by opponents as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill at the Florida State Capitol, March 7, 2022, in Tallahassee. Anyone contemplating crossing Gov. Ron DeSantis needs to be prepared to pay a price (Wilfredo Lee/AP)

Based on that description, 37% of those surveyed said they would support the law, and 43% said they would oppose it. The poll had a margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points, so the division could be much more narrow — or it could be farther apart.

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Another 20% of those surveyed had no opinion.

The law was passed with Republican votes and signed into law by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Democrats, and a handful of Republicans, opposed it.

The partisan difference was reflected in the views of people FAU surveyed.

  • Democrats: 33% support, 52% oppose, 15% no opinion.
  • Republicans, 53% support, 39% oppose , 8% no opinion.
  • Independents, 26% support, 39% oppose, 35% no opinion.

[ The results come from an FAU Business and Economics Polling Initiative survey of 532 Floridians conducted online through survey company Dynata from May 20-22. The margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The sample sizes for subgroups — such as Democrats or Republicans or people in different age groups — are smaller, so the margin of error is higher.

Pollster ratings from FiveThirtyEight.com give FAU an A/B rating based on the historical accuracy and methodology of its polls.

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Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com or on Twitter @browardpolitics

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