Topline
Legislation that would restrict how Florida teachers address sexuality and gender identity in classrooms – dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill – passed a vote in the state senate Tuesday and is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has signaled his support.
Demonstrators gather to speak out in front of the Florida Historic Capitol Museum in front of the … [+]
Key Facts
The Parental Rights in Education bill (HB 1557) would ban Florida teachers from discussing sexual orientation and gender identify that is not “age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students” by state standards, and ban instruction of the topics altogether for children in third grade and below.
The controversial bill passed 22-17 in the senate, almost two weeks after passing the state house.
Florida’s first openly-gay state senator Shevrin Jones became emotional during the vote Tuesday, and asked fellow senators to “open up your hearts” to Florida’s LGBTQ youths and make sure the legislation “is not hurting people.”
DeSantis previously indicated he would sign the bill, saying Monday the state would make sure parents can “send their kid to kindergarten without having some of this stuff injected into their school curriculum.”
Tangent
Late last week, the bill’s sponsor Rep. Joe Harding (R) pulled controversial amendments that would have required principals to tell parents if their child came out as LGBTQ at school after he said the media attention and nationwide backlash to the proposal had become “a distraction.”
Key Background
The legislation’s critics are concerned that preventing classroom instruction about LGBTQ people and issues would only further stigmatize LGBTQ youths, who are already more likely to have mental health problems and attempt suicide than their peers. Florida was also one of the states to bar critical race theory from being taught in schools, as classroom instruction continues to be a battle in the culture wars. School districts across the U.S. – including in Florida – have banned books that deal with race, gender, sexuality and race.
Further Reading
Controversial ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Passed By Florida House (Forbes)
Florida Becomes Fifth State To Bar Schools From Teaching Critical Race Theory (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2022/03/08/dont-say-gay-bill-passes-florida-senate/