DeSantis Ends DEI Programs, Sparking Debate Over Cultural...

In a decisive move on Wednesday, Governor Ron DeSantis put his signature on a new piece of legislation that prohibits local governments from allocating resources, endorsing, or carrying out diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This legislative action has been a focal point of discussions among leaders in Hillsborough County and the City of St. Petersburg.

Governor DeSantis, acknowledging the contentious nature of the legislation, stated, “It wasn’t easy. You know, these things are controversial, but it was certainly the right thing to do in terms of policy.”

This new law has drawn attention to its impact on local governance. St. Petersburg City Council member Corey Givens expressed his lack of surprise at the governor’s stance. “The governor wants to create a culture war that doesn’t exist. Merit, excellence and intelligence versus diversity, inclusion and equity,” Givens remarked.

“The governor wants to create a culture war that doesn’t exist. Merit, excellence and intelligence versus diversity, inclusion and equity,” Givens said.

St. Pete leaders spoke up about the rollback of DEI initiatives in this bill back in March. They said it could restrict St. Patrick’s Day, Pride, and Black and Hispanic Heritage celebrations.

8 On Your Side reached out to the city Wednesday to get a reaction to the bill’s signing, and is waiting to hear back.

The bill prohibits local governments from establishing or maintaining DEI offices, officers, or programs. It bars taxpayer funding for DEI-related initiatives or third-party contractors promoting such efforts. The legislation requires grant recipients to certify that public funds will not be used to advance DEI. It provides enforcement mechanisms, including penalties for officials who violate the law.

The governor said Wednesday local governments were spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on initiatives he calls discriminatory.

“I would say it’s an ideological construct that is designed to promote a particular political agenda, particularly to the detriment of disfavored groups. I would think with DEI the disfavored groups, No. 1, obviously would be white males. And I think they’ve been discriminated against,” DeSantis said. “I think that we should continue to have policies that ensure an even playing field or equal opportunity for people. But that is not the same as trying to socially engineer certain outcomes to the detriment of groups that some of the intellectual elite disfavor.”

Givens didn’t want to speak for the city’s Human Resources Department, but said the city tries to implement best practices, hiring the most qualified for the job.

“I honestly feel like some people feel intimidated when they are no longer in the majority, and in that way, they’re going to do everything that they can to create laws that will minimize the minorities voices,” Givens said. “It shouldn’t be about what we look like. It should be about how hard we work to get there. And that’s what DEI is all about. It’s about giving people an opportunity who might not look like the majority.”

The sponsor of the bill, Jacksonville Representative Clay Yarborough, mentioned Hillsborough County directly at the bill signing.

“Hillsborough County paid $572,000 for an external contract that included training, that taught staff from several departments that their prejudice is outside their control when it comes to race, ethnicity and gender. So you’re basically telling people that they’re forced to feel a certain way, they can’t help their prejudice and that they’re shackled down and that they can never change. And if we were really talking about things that were promoting equity and, you know, fairness and all. You wouldn’t promote an idea like that that promotes division. It doesn’t promote equity,” Yarborough said.

This was brought up during DOGE audits of local municipalities last year. 8 On Your Side reached out to Hillsborough County to get a statement responding to this comment, and is waiting to hear back.

This legislation goes into effect in January.

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DeSantis Ends DEI Programs, Sparking Debate Over Cultural Tensions

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