- Joe Harding, 35, is accused of defrauding a coronavirus loan program.
- Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bans teaching sexual orientation.
- The court date is set on January 11.
The Florida lawmaker accused of defrauding a federal coronavirus loan program for small businesses, which opponents refer to as “Don’t Say Gay,” has been indicted, officials announced Wednesday.
According to federal prosecutors, Rep. Joe Harding, 35, illegally obtained or attempted to obtain more than $150,000 in pandemic aid loans from the Small Business Administration. He is accused of making two false statements as well as two counts of money laundering and wire fraud.
Harding, a Republican, gained national attention this year for sponsoring a bill that forbids teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade as well as other content that isn’t considered appropriate for that age group.
“I want the public and my constituents to know that I fully repaid the loan and cooperated with investigators as requested,” Harding said in a written statement.
Harding’s committee assignments in the Legislature have been temporarily revoked by the Republican speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
The court date is set on January 11. LGBTQ+ advocates and some teachers expressed worry over the “Don’t Say Gay” bill’s potential to single out LGBTQ+ students or kids who have LGBTQ+ parents.
However, according to its supporters, it lays out precise standards for age-appropriate conversations and prioritizes parents’ rights to decide what their children learn.
Gov. Ron DeSantis “has destroyed our state’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive destination for all families, he has made us a laughing stock and subject of global scorn,” according to Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida, in a statement following the law’s signing in March. Even worse, he has decreased the safety of kids in schools.
“Equality Florida will defend the rights of all students to have a healthy environment to learn and thrive and for all parents to know their families are included and respected.
This law will not stand and we will work to see it removed either by the courts as unconstitutional or repealed by the legislature.”
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