“These are not taboo subjects, but banning them makes them so.” “It is always appropriate for kids to talk about themselves, their experiences and their families,” adds Gross. If a child being raised by a same-sex couples draws a picture of their two dads, Gross says, their teacher may face a decision between allowing the child to participate-and opening themselves and their school up to lawsuits-or excluding them from the exercise. Kara Gross, the legislative director and senior policy counsel of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, provides another example: Elementary school students are assigned to draw pictures of their families and present them to their class. Read more: Anti-Trans Violence and Rhetoric Reached Record Highs Across America in 2021 Dennis Baxley, who sponsors the bill in the Senate, says that is “exactly” what the bill aims to prevent. Travis Hutson gave the example of a math problem that includes the details that “Sally has two moms or Johnny has two dads.” Republican State Sen. At a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Republican Sen. Such a law would directly impact how teachers could provide instruction. (In an interview with TIME, Harding referred to “primary grade level” and Kindergarten through third grade.) The bill does not define “primary grade levels,” and Florida doesn’t have a statutory definition for the term at the moment, so critics argue it’s unclear exactly what age range the ban would apply to.
What is Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill?įlorida Senate Bill 1834 and House Bill 1557, both titled “Parental Rights in Education,” ban public school districts from encouraging classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in “primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmental appropriate for students.” If passed, the law would go into effect on July 1, and all school district plans would need to be updated by June 2023. In January the bill also passed a committee in the state House of Representatives, which Republicans also control.
The Florida Senate Education Committee passed the bill on Tuesday it will be considered by two more Senate committees before the whole Republican-controlled chamber votes on it. “He is willing to inflict harm on the most vulnerable in FL in order to shore up his extremist base.” “His political agenda is driven not by the real pressing needs of our state,” the group tweeted. The advocacy group Equality Florida condemned DeSantis’ seeming endorsement of the bill, arguing that he “is using anti-LGBTQ legislation as a springboard to serve national political ambitions.” “The larger issue with all of this is parents must have a seat at the table when it comes to what’s going on in their schools,” he said. Ron DeSantis made a similar argument, telling reporters that it is “entirely inappropriate” for teachers to be having conversations with students about gender identity. (He did not address the discrepancy between “informing” parents and an outright ban on LGBTQ instruction.) In an interview with TIME, Harding says he thinks the bill’s critics are “absolutely misinformed on what exactly the bill does.” He argues that it aims to keep parents aware of instances in which sexual orientation and gender orientation are being discussed with their children. Read more: Kid of the Year Finalist Kai Shappley, 11, Takes on Lawmakers in Her Fight for Trans Rights “I remember the moment when I realised that, unlike most initiatives that I spearhead, I can’t lead by example on this one, because my blood’s not welcome in this country,” he said.“I want every member of the LGBTQI+ community-especially the kids who will be impacted by this hateful bill-to know that you are loved and accepted just as you are,” Biden tweeted Tuesday evening. Pete Buttigieg, who would become the first openly gay president were he elected, spoke about overturning the ban on blood donations from queer men. “Well, I’m going to assume it’s a guy who said that, and I’m going to say, ‘then just marry one woman.’ I’m cool with that,” Warren replied, held for applause and added: “Assuming you can find one.” Morgan Cox, chair of the Human Rights Campaign board of directors, asked how she would respond if an “old-fashioned” supporter told her: “My faith teaches me that marriage is between one man and one woman.” He said that were he to return to the White House as commander-in-chief, he would withhold foreign aid from countries which persecute LGBT+ people.Įlizabeth Warren, who is currently polling a very close second, delivered the best moment of the night while replying to a question on same-sex marriage.