Florida Senate plans siege of Disney World
Reuters reported on April 20 that the Florida Senate has passed a bill that would remove Walt Disney World's self-governing status, in response to the company's public opposition of the state's infamous "Don't Say Gay" bill that limits discussion of LGBTQ issues in schools. Disney had previously paused its political donations to Florida after a public outcry.

Losing its self-governing status would mean Disney World would no longer have its own special tax district, complete with its own services such as fire fighting, power, water, and roads, as well as tax relief. The change would go into effect in June of 2023.

The bill first needs to clear Florida's House before it can reach Gob. Ron DeSantis for signing. DeSantis himself signed the "Don't Say Gay" bill last month, and according to Reuters, he is a potential candidate for the Republican party's presidential nomination in 2024.

Tennessee House passes protections for teachers who misgender
NBC reported on April 26 that the Tennessee House has passed a measure, SB 2777, which would allow teachers and public school staff to refuse to "use a student's preferred pronoun when referring to the student if the preferred pronoun is not consistent with the student's biological sex." It would also protect educators from "civil liability and adverse employment action" for doing so.

Advocates, such as the bill's authors, have argued that it is necessary to protect school staff from "coerced speech" and cited the lawsuit in which a professor and evangelical Christian, Nicolas Merriwether, sued his employer, Shawnee State University, after it criticized him for refusing to refer to a student by their preferred pronouns.

The bill needs to pass the state Senate before it reaches the governor's desk. The Tennessee General Assembly's Fiscal Review Committee has warned that the bill could violate federal law and "jeopardize federal funding," citing the US Department of Education's interpretation of Title IX as protecting LGBTQ students from discrimination.