rights
Court issues major blow to DeSantis's "Stop WOKE Act" & calls it "a breathtaking assertion of power"
By Molly Sprayregen at LGBTQ Nation
· July 8, 2026
· 4 min read
Florida's so-called Stop WOKE Act, championed by anti-LGBTQ+ Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), received a major blow on Tuesday, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit upheld a 2022 injunction against applying the law to colleges and universities. In the 2-1 decision, the judges called the law "a
Key takeaway The Stop WOKE Act censors protected speech on racism and gender-based discrimination in classrooms and workplaces with more than 15 employees.
Why this matters
The 11th Circuit's decision to uphold the injunction against the Stop WOKE Act's application to colleges and universities marks a significant victory for free speech and academic freedom in Florida. By characterizing the law as "a breathtaking assertion of power," the judges highlight the potential for the law to stifle discussions on racism and gender-based discrimination in educational settings. The ruling also underscores the law's overly broad language, which could be used to suppress any discussion of social privilege or discrimination, making it difficult for schools to provide meaningful anti-discrimination training. This decision has national implications, as similar laws have been proposed or enacted in other states, and its outcome may inform future challenges to such legislation. The fact that the law's proponents, including Governor DeSantis and Attorney General Uthmeier, continue to defend it suggests that this issue is far from resolved, and further legal battles can be expected.
About this story
Original reporting by LGBTQ Nation . LGBTQ News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: rights ·
Published: July 8, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Florida's so-called Stop WOKE Act, championed by anti-LGBTQ+ Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), received a major blow on Tuesday, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit upheld a 2022 injunction against applying the law to colleges and universities. In the 2-1 decision, the judges called the law "a
When was this published? This article was first published on July 8, 2026 by LGBTQ Nation and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Molly Sprayregen at LGBTQ Nation. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more rights coverage from LGBTQ News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .