The Florida Board of Education approved a new rule Wednesday that prohibits classroom discussion on sexual orientation and gender identity for all grades unless the state curriculum standards expressly require it.

The new rule, which will take effect in a month, builds on the Parental Rights in Education Act the state passed last year that was ignominiously dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill by detractors, despite the legislation including no mention of the word "gay" or any other sexual orientations.

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Under the provision of the new rule, classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity are prohibited in all grades. However, for grades 4-12, the regulation says such instruction will only be permitted if the curriculum is in line with state education standards or if it is part of reproductive health classes that allow parents to opt their children out.

The new rule is the latest effort by the administration of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) to push a conservative education agenda ahead of the governor's expected 2024 presidential campaign.

In a statement to the Washington Examiner, Florida Department of Education spokesman Alex Lanfranconi said the rule "reaffirms Florida’s commitment to uphold parental rights and keep indoctrination out of our schools."

"Educators in Florida are expected to teach to the state academic standards," Lanfranconi said. "The topics of gender identity and sexual orientation have no place in the classroom, unless required by law."

The new rule is separate from legislation under consideration in the Florida Capitol that would ban classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity through eighth grade. The 2022 Parental Rights in Education Act only prohibited it from preschool to third grade.

Equality Florida, an LGBT advocacy organization that has issued a travel warning for gay and transgender people visiting Florida, denounced the new rule and said it was an example of a "lust for government censorship" by DeSantis.

"Let’s put it plainly: this is part of the governor’s assault on freedom. Free states do not ban books. Free states do not censor entire communities out of the classroom. Free states do not wage war on LGBTQ people to score cheap political points for a man desperate to be [president]," the organization tweeted. "This policy will escalate the government censorship sweeping our state, exacerbate our educator exodus, drive hardworking families from Florida, and further stigmatize and isolate a population of young people who need our support now more than ever.

The initial passage of the Parental Rights in Education Act turned Florida into a wellspring of national controversy as national groups and Democratic politicians decried the legislation as harmful to gay and transgender youth.

The Walt Disney Company vowed to push for the bill's repeal, which prompted DeSantis to back legislation that stripped the company of the self-governance benefits it enjoyed in the region of its Disney World theme parks. DeSantis announced Monday that he was seeking further legislation to void an effort by the company last year to maintain its self-governance status in the Orlando area.