Kate McKinnon Makes Jest Of Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill On 'SNL'

A recent "Saturday Night Live" episode took a deep dive into some political issues, courtesy of Kate McKinnon. The actress cum comedian is renowned for her celebrity impression and character work which she has often showcased on the NBC variety show.

However, her feature in the recurring program saw her speak up against a new bill being deliberated upon by the state of Florida. The bill, which centered on the right to say gay, prompted the actress to air some discordant view that is currently making the headlines.

Find out more below.

McKinnon, 38, appeared on the show's " Weekend Update " and co-anchored with Colin Jost. Among the variety of issues highlighted in the segment, the actress discussed at length why she disagreed with the "Don't Say Gay" bill.

Although the actress did not understand the bill's concept at first, a clarification from her co-anchor enlightened her. It spawned a series of comments from McKinnon on how enacting the bill will adversely affect the gay community.

"I am deeply gay―sorry, concerned. Deeply concerned. It just feels like this is going to make kids gay and trans ― sorry, depressed and suicidal," McKinnon said.

She added: "And sorry I think these laws are lesbian — sorry, unconscionable … if the '90s were right, and 'gay' means 'bad,' then this is the gayest law I have ever seen."

After dropping her opinion, the "SNL" actress concluded her sketch by rallying the "SNL" crowd in a "gay" chant to show solidarity for their rights further.

During her discourse with her co-anchor on the show, McKinnon, who is also gay, initially appeared confused about the bill's tenets. It promoted a first reaction that was contrary to her gay beliefs.

"I heard about this law, and I think it's amazing," McKinnon, who's openly gay, said. "When I was in middle school, in the '90s, I was kind of tortured by the constant use of the word 'gay.' Like, you know, 'That's so gay,' or 'Ew, you're gay.' It made me feel horrible."

The actress then added that she was surprised that Florida governor Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had taken a stand to win one for the gay community. Jost's clarification helped clear McKinnon's initial standing, and she quickly switched goalposts to oppose her previous view.

An explanation of the bill's provisions on the show included its origin as the Parental Rights Education bill and how it would prohibit sex and gender discussions in Florida's elementary schools. The bill also highlighted that the legislation backs parents and guardians to file lawsuits against rebellious schools or instructors who bring up the topic.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has pushed for the bill and defended it against detractors, most recently during a news conference in Jackson, Florida. He told the reporters that it was improper for instructors to discuss sexual orientation and gender identity with the kids.

DeSantis supported his opinion by saying, "Schools need to teach kids to read and write. They need to teach them science, history."

Many critics opined that the bill's passage would further marginalize gay, lesbian, and transgender youth. They also worry that its provisions would restrict teachers from holding dialogues about gay issues in the classroom and obliterate LGBTQ culture from the state's syllabus.

In an unprecedented show of support, the White House also backed the bill's opponents, with the press secretary tweeting an official statement to decry the bill.

https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse/status/1491182851919908873?s=20&t=il9iHvhMnbxeL4lztcKWKg

"Conservative politicians in Florida advanced legislation designed to attack LGBTQI+ kids. Instead of making growing up harder for young people, @POTUS is focused on keeping schools open and supporting students' mental health," the White House tweeted.

According to reports, the Florida House of Representatives passed the bill on February 24, and the Florida Senate is set to vote on it on Monday. The measure will take effect during the 2022-2023 school year if it passes the senate-house.