Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been accused of creating fear around every corner, targeting the LGBTQ+ community, black community, the trans community, children, drag queens, and now, college professors. This is reminiscent of the Red Scare in the 1950s, where Senator Joseph McCarthy instilled fear in American society and created blacklists of entertainers in Hollywood. Fast forward 70 years and DeSantis has proposed plans to defund all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs at state colleges and universities in Florida.
The English professor at Florida's Palm Beach Atlantic University, Sam Joeckel, is facing an investigation into his job after his employer received a complaint that he is "indoctrinating" students. Joeckel said his conversation with his employers indicated that the investigation was prompted by a complaint from a parent. He has been teaching a unit on racial justice in classes for many years without complaints until his provost and dean said they needed to talk to him "privately" at the end of a class. The two told him his contract renewal for next year would be on hold as they investigated the materials used in the racial justice unit.
DeSantis' administration rejected a proposed Advanced Placement African American studies course in high schools partly explained as being based on "Queer Theory". Three Florida public university professors at separate institutions have alerted the Queer News Tonight to investigations of the same diversity, equity, and inclusion program concerns in their classrooms. Emails and texts with public universities and colleges are now being collected and reviewed, and the union for college educators in Florida and attorneys for many Florida universities are involved in the growing investigations from Governor DeSantis and Florida's state government over professors believed to be involved in diversity, equality, and inclusion programs.
This is a disturbing story that has its roots in the shameful headlines of 1953. It is alarming that in 2023, we are still facing similar issues, and it is a cause for concern. The LGBTQ+ community, along with other minority groups, is being targeted, and their voices are being silenced. We must come together to fight against this injustice and stand up for the rights of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation, race, gender identity, or any other characteristic that makes them unique. We must continue to follow this story and keep pushing for equality and inclusivity.
