New York running ads aimed at Florida’s controversial new education bill

New York City launched an ad campaign Monday that takes aim at the controversial new Florida law that critics call the “don’t say gay” bill. Creative content and ad space were donated to support the initiative.

The campaign will use digital billboards in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach, April 4 through May 29, for a total of eight weeks — delivering an estimated 5 million impressions, according to a New York City news release.

The law (HB 1557) will prohibit instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third-grade.

For older grades, the bill will prohibit such instruction that “is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate” in accordance with state academic standards. Parents can sue school districts for violations of the measure.

Florida Republicans have said the bill is about bolstering parental rights. But it has drawn national attention, with opponents saying it will harm LGBTQ children. Monday’s news release about the ad campaign called the law a “targeted attack on the LGBTQ+” population.

“I am the mayor of New York City, but I have a message for Florida’s LGBTQ+ community — come to a city where you can say and be whoever you want,” New York Mayor Eric Adams said in a prepared statement. “Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill is the latest shameful, extremist culture war targeting the LGBTQ+ community.”

Below are the campaign messages: