Soap aims to scrub out Florida’s so-called ‘don’t say gay’ law

A cosmetics company is selling a new product in support of LGBTQ rights in Florida in the wake of the state’s so-called “don’t say gay” law: a bar of soap engraved with the wording “Gay Is OK”.

Lush Cosmetics said proceeds from the limited-edition soap will go toward supporting Equality Florida, a civil rights organization that works to secure equal rights for the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer communities.

The shiny, gold-colored soap will be available in Florida’s 12 Lush Cosmetics stores, as well as online, with 100% of the proceeds going toward raising $50,000 for Equality Florida, Lush said in a press release.

“LGBTQ young people and their families are facing a political onslaught aimed at stigmatizing and erasing them,” said Nadine Smith, Equality Florida’s executive director, in a statement. “This toxic climate will make schools less safe for the youth that need our support most.”

“We are proud to stand with Equality Florida’s work to support the queer community at this critical and uncertain time,” said Carleen Pickard of Lush Cosmetics.

The law, dubbed “don’t say gay” by critics, but formally called the Parental Rights in Education bill, prohibits instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade, and potentially restricts instruction for older students, too.

The law, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in late March, goes into effect on July 1.

“If you’re protesting this law, you’re in favor of injecting sexual instruction into 5-, 6- and 7-year-old kids,” DeSantis recently told WPTV.