Dive Brief:

• The Common Core debate has taken a turn for the nonsensical in Florida, as video has surfaced of state Rep. Charles Van Zant telling the Operation Education Conference that the national standards will turn kids gay.  
• Van Zant's claims are focused on the state's test development contract with the American Institutes for Research, as the lawmaker argues that AIR "are promoting as hard as they can, any youth that is interested in the LGBT agenda," additionally claiming that the organization "will attract every one of your children to become as homosexual as they possibly can."  
• The lawmaker's claims are based on the fact that AIR does research on LGBT youth issues —​ along with bullying and substance abuse —​ which they provide to youth organizations upon request.  

Dive Insight:

While Van Zant made these claims in March, his comments are now making the rounds again since a video was posted to Think Progress on Monday, gaining coverage from outlets like the Washington Post and Huffington Post. The video does back up points made in a recent report by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Earlier this month, the nonprofit civil rights organization released a report concluding that legitimate debate around the Common Core has been subverted by right-wing propaganda and fear-mongering. Perhaps no other example has highlighted this point as well as Van Zant's nonsensical argument.