Kate McKinnon Slams Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill During “SNL”‘s Weekend Update

During “Saturday Night Live“‘s Weekend Update, cast member Kate McKinnon took on Florida’s controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill, saying it might actually be a good thing. “I heard about this law, and I think it’s amazing,” she began, clearly joking. “When I was in middle school, in the ’90s, I was kind of tortured by the constant use of the word ‘gay,'” explained McKinnon, who herself identifies as an openly gay person. “Like, you know, ‘That’s so gay,’ or ‘Ew, you’re gay.’ It made me feel horrible.”

Weekend Update co-anchor Colin Jost then went on to clarify that the bill would actually mean that discussions about sexual orientation or gender identity would be prohibited in public schools. “If a kid confides that they’re gay to a teacher, the teacher has to out them to their parents,” he told McKinnon, who appeared visibly shocked. “I am deeply gay. Sorry, concerned. Deeply concerned,” she responded. “It just feels like this is going to make kids gay and trans ― sorry, depressed and suicidal.”

“If the ’90s were right, and ‘gay’ means ‘bad,’ then this is the gayest law I have ever seen,” McKinnon concluded before chanting the word “gay” over the tune of Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water.” Watch the clip above!