Publication date: May 23, 2022
Written by: Travis Taylor
The Center for Excellence in Polling recently surveyed likely Florida voters to gauge their opinions on the recently passed Florida House Bill 1557, which prohibits sexual education and gender identity issues from being taught in kindergarten through third grade public classrooms. Questions were also asked regarding Walt Disney Corporation’s opposition to the popular measure as well as special corporate tax statuses in the state.
While the Left and their media allies have attempted to smear HB 1557 and mischaracterize its intent, our survey shows that Floridians do not agree. They are united in opposition to sexual education and gender identity curriculum being taught to young children in public schools or appearing in children’s TV programming. And there is bipartisan support for making sure corporations follow the same tax rules as everyone else.
One of the most interesting findings from this poll shows that voters are deeply opposed to sexual education topics being taught in lower grades at all.
61%
…say that sexual education topics should either not be taught in schools at all, or that they should wait until students are at least 12 years of age.
68%
…of likely voters don’t want public schools to contract with third-party groups to teach sexual topics to students in elementary school. This sentiment is shared among voters across the political spectrum, with majorities of Republicans (79%), Democrats (54%), and Independents (68%) uniting in opposition.
57%
…oppose plans from Disney corporate executives to include sexual and gender orientation-relation content in children’s programming. This includes 81 percent of Republicans and 53 percent of Independents. Fifty-four percent of Democrats indicated they don’t mind if Disney inserts a sexual orientation agenda into children’s programming.
Views on the Walt Disney Corporation are divided along party lines, yet survey results show opposition to HB 1557 was perhaps not the public relations boon the corporation had expected.
64%
…of Republicans and a 23-point plurality of Independents say their opinion of Disney has gotten worse over the past three months. This stands in contrast to Democrats whose opinions have largely remained neutral. Disney’s corporate move to engage in identity politics has alienated center-right consumers while doing little to increase support from left-leaning allies.
And the recently revoked tax status which will now require all corporations to operate as and pay taxes as a business rather than a municipality is supported by a plurality of Democrats.
61%
…of likely voters say they support Governor DeSantis’s move to require that all corporations be subject to the same taxes across the state. This includes most Republicans and Independents.