90 Day Fiancé: Kenneth Denounces Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill
As a gay former Floridian, Kenneth Niedermeier is particularly infuriated by the "Don't Say Gay" bill, and he had strong words about it on Instagram.
As a gay man, 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way cast member Kenneth Niedermeier feels deeply outraged by the "Don’t Say Gay" bill that was recently signed into law in Florida, and he didn’t hesitate to spell out exactly what makes the legislation so harmful. As a former resident of Florida—where most of his family still lives—Kenneth is personally impacted by the bill. So when a fan told him to stop spreading “false information,” the 90 Day Fiancé franchise star went off and shared his exchange with followers.
Kenneth was introduced on The Other Way season 2 and he and his fiancé Armando Rubio quickly became fan favorites. Their obvious love for each other and level headedness makes them stand out from most of their castmates, and viewers were thrilled when the couple returned on The Other Way season 3. But Armando and Kenneth have experienced their share of struggles, which primarily came from Armando’s Mexican family who had trouble accepting his sexual orientation. Eventually, Armando’s family realized that love is love, and even Armando’s traditional father was moved by his son’s beautiful and heartfelt wedding ceremony. Since they got married, Kenneth and Armando are living out their happily ever after with their daughter Hannah.
Though most fans love Kenneth and Armando, there are, unfortunately, many people in the world who think their love is something inherently wrong. On Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law the Parental Rights in Education bill, which has been dubbed the "Don’t Say Gay" bill by its opponents. The new bill forbids schools from giving instruction on “sexual orientation or gender identity” and allows parents to sue school districts if they feel the law has been violated. Obviously, Kenneth is very much against the bill that implies existing as a gay person is inherently wrong and inappropriate. On Instagram, Kenneth acknowledged that the majority of his followers similarly condemn the bill, but he had a message for those who don’t.
“These laws tell them they are bad,” Kenneth said in a DM to a misguided fan, adding “These laws tell youth that what they are feeling (being gay) is shameful, wrong, and they are not worthy of being noticed, respected, and acknowledged.” Aside from preventing open dialogue, Kenneth also pointed out that the bill removes schools as a potential safe haven for gay kids who face discrimination at home. “This law is worthless,” Kenneth asserted in the message, and stressed that this is the sort of thing that makes children “struggle with their sexual identity kill themselves, have mental health issues.” The bill impacts everyone from gay teachers, to gay students, to children with gay family members, as well as every other student whose understanding of the world is being restricted.
Though it’s unlikely, hopefully Kenneth’s passionate words helped educate that fan. The 90 Day Fiancé: The Other Way star has a personal connection to the bill, as his grandson goes to school in Florida and will likely be impacted. It’s no wonder that Kenneth felt the need to share this fan exchange with his followers, because as he said, it’s important to speak up and “stop the silence.”
Source: Kenneth Niedermeier/Instagram, FindLaw, AP News