NEW YORK (Reuters) – New York Mayor Eric Adams on Monday introduced the launch of digital billboards throughout Florida denouncing that state’s regulation that bans most classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identification and urging the LGBTQ neighborhood to maneuver to New York Metropolis.

Signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on March 28, the Republican-backed regulation takes impact in July and prohibits classroom dialogue on sexual orientation or gender identification for youngsters in kindergarten via third grade, or from about ages 5-9, in public faculties.

Adams, a Democrat, referred to as the Parental Rights in Training regulation – dubbed the “Do not Say Homosexual” invoice by opponents – “the most recent shameful, extremist tradition struggle concentrating on the LGBTQ+ neighborhood.” He assured Floridians that New York Metropolis welcomed the LGBTQ+ neighborhood.

“Come to a metropolis the place you’ll be able to say and be whoever you need,” Adams mentioned in a press release.

“Immediately, we are saying to the households residing in concern of this state-sponsored discrimination that you’ll all the time have a house in New York Metropolis.”

Adams made the announcement at New York’s Metropolis Corridor whereas standing beside an instance of one of many billboards, which he mentioned have been donated and won’t value taxpayers.

“Folks say a number of ridiculous issues in New York. ‘Do not say homosexual’ is not one in every of them,” reads a black and white billboard with “Do not say homosexual” within the rainbow colours of the LGBTQ Satisfaction Flag.

DeSantis press secretary Christina Pushaw mentioned on Twitter (NYSE:) that the regulation was “defending parental rights” and if these opposed go away for New York Metropolis, which she referred to as “a crime-ridden dystopia,” that might solely profit Florida.

DeSantis and different Republican politicians throughout america say they wish to give dad and mom extra management over what younger youngsters study in class.

The outside digital billboards will run for eight weeks beginning April 4 in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Seaside, Adams mentioned.

Florida dad and mom filed a lawsuit to dam the measure, saying it would have the impact of discriminating towards lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) college students.

They declare it not solely violates college students’ First Modification proper to obtain info and concepts, but additionally is unconstitutionally obscure and fails to outline what dialogue is and isn’t allowed in faculties.