Gov. DeSantis To Expand Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill

What’s the story?

• Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) is moving towards expanding the controversial law known as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” banning teaching about sex education and gender identity in schools. 
• DeSantis seeks to bar all grades from talking about these subjects, even through senior year of high school. The Board of Education is expected to vote on the proposal next month, which is led by DeSantis appointees. 
• The Parental Rights in Education Act was passed last year and banned these topics from kindergarten to third grade. 
• The governor and other supporting Republicans say the law protects children from inappropriate content that should not be in the classroom, including language around sexual orientation, gender expression, identity, sex-ed, and any “sexually-oriented” programs or materials —- i.e., pride flag, pamphlets on gender dysphoria, drag queen story hours, and more. 
• Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr said in a tweet: 

“Students should be spending their time in school learning core academic subjects, not being force-fed radical gender and sexual ideology.”

• Michael Rajner, an LGBTQ+ rights advocate, said:

“This is an assault and a culture war against LGBTQ families. We are living at a time where we are finding an erosion of the rights and protections that so many communities of people have worked so hard to achieve.”

The federal Don't Say Gay Bill

Bill overview

• Introduced by House Republicans, the "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act" would prohibit using federal funds to develop, implement, or facilitate any program, event, or media that introduces gender identity, sexual orientation, or "related subjects" to children under the age of 10. It's inspired by Florida's controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill. 

What's in the bill?

• The bill bans broad language around LGBTQIA+ topics, halts funds for any "sexually-oriented" programs, events, and literature for childnre under 10, and allows parents to se over classroom material.

Argument in favor

• Supporters of the bill argue discussions of any non-heteronormative behavior are inappropriate and sexualize children. 
• Conservatives complain that mentioning sexual orientation & gender identity will have developmental impacts on children. 
• Bill advocates also say the classroom narratives revolving around "woke gender ideology" and gender transitions without the knowledge of and consent of parents prove an "alternative leftist agenda."
• Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said: 

"We will make sure that parents can send their kids to school to get an education, not an indoctrination...It's not something that's appropriate for any place, but especially not in Florida." 

Arguments opposed

• LGBTQIA+ groups, allies, and critics of the bill argue that it marginalizes the LGBTQIA+ community, obscures gay history, and popularizes anti-gay sentiment. 
• This bill will fuel bullying, magnify feelings of isolation, and intensify shame, increasing the chances of suicide in the LGBTQIA+ community (1.8 million LGBTQ youth consider suicide each year in the U.S., and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds.)
• Opponents also argue that grouping pornography and LGBTQIA+ topics is a deeply inaccurate and offensive portrayal of the gay community. Additionally, this bill inherently sexualizes the education of the human body, when children should be able to learn about their bodies — safely and accurately. 
• David Stacy, Human Rights Campaign Government Affairs Director, said:

"Extremist House Republicans like Mike Johnson are continuing their assault on LGBTQ+ Americans' ability to live their lives openly and honestly. A federal 'Don't Say Gay or Trans' bill...is their latest cruel attempt to stigmatize and marginalize the community, not in an attempt to solve actual problems but only to rile up their extremist base."

Do you support DeSantis' expansion of the 'Don't Say Gay' bill?

-Jamie Epstein

(Photo credit: Flickr/Gage Skidmore)