Gov. Gavin Newsom compared Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' 'Don't Say Gay' bill to 1978 California bill that almost banned gay teachers

• CA Gov. Gavin Newsom accepted an education award on Wednesday and called out Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law.
• FL Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration spearheaded the legislation as well as bans on Critical Race Theory.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom compared Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' "Don't Say Gay" bill with a 1978 bill in California that almost banned gay teachers from classrooms.

Newsom criticized DeSantis' approach to education and pointed out that, in March, DeSantis' spokesperson Christina Pushaw said the "Don't Say Gay" bill is better known as the "Anti-Grooming Bill."

"The bill that liberals inaccurately call "Don't Say Gay" would be more accurately described as an Anti-Grooming Bill," she tweeted. "If you're against the Anti-Grooming Bill, you are probably a groomer, or at least you don't denounce the grooming of 4-8 year old children."

"Silence is complicity," she added. "This is how it works, Democrats, and I didn't make the rules."

The Florida legislation, which activists have dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" law, restricts educators from discussing sexual orientation in classrooms. Critics, including President Joe Biden, have described the legislation as "hateful."

The law is part of a larger conservative push to limit discussions on race, gender, and sexuality in classrooms.

On Wednesday, Newsom spoke at National Forum on Education Policy after winning an award, recalling a 1978 failed ballot initiative in California that would have mandated the firing of gay or lesbian teachers — as well as any teachers in support of gay rights at the time.

"Teachers were under assault because God forbid, teachers were homosexual," Newsom said. He said the initiative argued that gay teachers "would be grooming our kids."

"That was the debate we were having in the 1970s," the California governor said.

He went on to mention Pushaw's March tweets about calling opponents to the Florida legislation "groomers."

"Press secretary for the governor of one of our largest states said people like me that were opposed to — and I know a lot of people are offended by saying it's not really a 'Don't Say Gay' bill — but referred to those that opposed it in Florida as 'groomers,'" Newsom added. "I think she was promoted, not fired. Certainly wasn't fired."

Newsom and DeSantis did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Newsom's Wednesday remarks are the latest attack he waged on DeSantis' administration over the controversial education policies.

In an Independence Day ad, Newsom targeted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' policies, including the "Don't Say Gay" law and a ban on math books that Republican lawmakers said included components of Critical Race Theory.

"Freedom is under attack in your state," Newsom said in the ad, speaking to Floridians.

"Republican leaders, they're banning books, making it harder to vote, restricting speech in classrooms, even criminalizing women and doctors," he added.

"I urge all of you living in Florida to join the fight or join us in California, where we still believe in freedom: freedom of speech, freedom to choose freedom from hate, and the freedom to love," Newsom continued. "Don't let them take your freedom."

DeSantis also jabbed at Newsom in response — saying that California lawmakers are "hemorrhaging population" while Florida remains a "citadel of freedom."

There is speculation that Newsom and DeSantis are eyeing possible runs in the 2024 presidential election.