Huh.The bill’s main focus is encouraging transparency between schools and parents, and providing appropriate coursework. Three states passed similar bills last year that allow parents to opt students out of any lesson or coursework that mentions sexual orientation or gender identity.
In addition to the Parental Rights in Education bill, aka “Don’t Say Gay” bill in Florida, 15 other bills are under consideration in eight states that would limit speech about LGBTQ identities in classrooms, according to PEN American, a nonprofit group that advocates for free speech. And we will wake up every single day to fight for you, because you are worth fighting for,” Smith said. Carlos Guillermo Smith, a Democrat who is gay, told lawmakers in an impassioned speech “I want to make sure that for those LGBTQ youth in Florida and around the country and in the world who are watching, I want to make sure that they know this: You are loved. More than half of transgender and nonbinary youths who were surveyed seriously considered suicide, it also found.Ī post shared by Carlos Guillermo Smith the House floor Thursday, Rep. Democrats argued that the legislation’s text makes it unclear what age groups the bill could apply to, and the broad language of the legislation could open districts to lawsuits from parents who believe any conversation about LGBTQ people or issues to be inappropriate.Īmit Paley, the CEO and Executive Director of the Trevor Project-an LGBTQ youth suicide prevention and intervention group-said in a statement, “When lawmakers treat LGBTQ topics as taboo and brand our community as unfit for the classroom, it only adds to the existing stigma and discrimination, which puts LGBTQ young people at greater risk for bullying, depression and suicide.”A national survey by the Trevor Project… found that 42 percent of LGBTQ youths seriously considered attempting suicide last year. The bill has grabbed the attention of international newspapers, Hollywood actors and the White House.
If there was ever a time to register to vote, it is now. Children deserve to be who they want to be. Horrified by what is happening in Florida. “It’s actually providing boundaries, and it’s fair to our teachers and our school districts to know what we expect.” The bill would not prohibit students from talking about their LGBTQ families or bar classroom discussions about LGBTQ history, including events like the 2016 attack on the Pulse nightclub, a gay club in Orlando.
“Creating boundaries at an early age of what is appropriate in our schools, when we are funding our schools, is not hate,” Harding said. Harding said the measure is about “empowering parents” and improving the quality of life for the state’s children. Joe Harding (Republican) introduced to the House, says discussions about “sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.” The legislation will now head to the state Senate.