Proposed legislation in Florida would restrict how teachers can discuss sexuality and gender in the classroom, the latest effort by Republican lawmakers to remove the teaching of LGBTQ issues from schools.
Supporters say the measure empowers parents who deserve to have a say in what their children learn, but critics – who’ve dubbed the proposal the “Don’t Say Gay” bill – argue that it will strip protections from LGBTQ kids and have a chilling effect on educators.
Versions of the so-called “Parental Rights in Education” bill passed a Florida House committee in January and cleared a Senate committee this week.
What’s in the bill
Under the House bill, a Florida school district “may not encourage classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.” The bill doesn’t specify how “age-appropriate” and “developmentally appropriate” would be defined.
The bills would also give parents the ability to sue schools if they believed the schools violated any provisions of the law.
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