C’Morra Cuffie
Legislation that bans the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in primary school classrooms has passed in Florida’s statehouse in February 2022. Florida's house committee passed an updated version of its parental rights in education bill HB 1557. Because Florida is currently a poster state for anti- LGBTQ+ curriculum laws, other states are moving faster on further reaching bills. And it’s not just Florida: 15 Other ‘Dont Say Gay’-style bills are cropping up nationwide. A house bill in Tennessee would ban textbooks and instructional materials that “promote, normalize, support, or address lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBTQ) lifestyles” in K-12 schools. Another, in Kansas, seeks to amend the state's obscenity law to make using classroom materials depicting “homosexuality” a class B misdemeanor. Legislators in Indiana are working to bar educators from discussing in any context of “sexual orientaion,” “transgenderism,” or “gender identity” without permission from parents. Schools would be required to notify parents when children receive mental, emotional or physical health services, unless educators believe there is a risk of “abuse, abandonment, or neglect.” The procedures must reinforce the fundamental right of parents to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control of their children by requiring school district personnel to encourage a student to discuss issues relating to his or her well-being with his or her parents to facilitate discussion of the issue with the parent.” This bill was written because activists are concerned about how schools would respond to students who question their gender identity. They declare that schools should not publicize children who say they are transgender if it means contradicting their parents. Those who are in support of the bill say that the bill will give families more information on what their children are learning in schools and that children should not be caring about sexual orientation and gender identity. LGBTQ activists and Legislators that are against the bill say that LGBTQ topics are not essentially inappropriate or shameful and should not be treated as such. Some activists argue that if children don't feel safe at home they should feel safe at school and express themselves and be themselves. According to the “ The Florida Senate” the bill requires all school district student support services training to adhere to guidelines, standards, and frameworks established by the Department of Education (DOE). By June 30, 2023, the DOE must review and update, as necessary, all relevant guidelines, standards, and frameworks for compliance with the bill. So we shall see by next year how everything plays out and if this bill influences more states around the nation.
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