The LGBTQ+ community is in uproar after Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” (Parental Rights Education Bill) earlier this month. It aims to prohibit “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” as well as education about the AIDs epidemic or LGBTQ+ history in general. The extremely homophobic bill represents the intolerance of the Republican party in Florida, and the many steps away from freedom conservative politicians are taking. It is easy to take one look at the media’s proclaimed title of the bill and see how it would be offensive to LGBTQ+ people everywhere, but why exactly is it so bad?
Firstly, it perpetuates the idea that homosexuality is a purely sexual idea. The same people that claim LGBTQ+ relations are fine “behind closed doors” are the ones pushing the idea that LGBTQ+ relationship education does not belong in elementary education, because they see it as equivalent to a “kink” or other strictly sexual activities. Some have even called this bill the “Anti-Grooming” bill, implying that any education on LGBTQ+ issues at a young age is a form of pedophilia, grooming them for inappropriate relationships. It is incredibly harmful to children who may be LGBTQ+ or know people who are to see that their identity is not an acceptable topic for the public. It implies that being gay is something you should hide.
Healthcare workers explained “when a person’s identity (or the identity of a loved one) becomes politicized and a point of debate, it can be dehumanizing, increase stigma and stress and be especially damaging for impressionable, vulnerable young people.” The effects of this bill are not only social ostracism but dire physical harm to developing young people.
Moreover, the bill makes it unsafe for young people questioning their sexuality to go to trusted school officials for help. An amendment to out LGBTQ+ students to their parents within six months of discovering or being informed of their sexual orientation has nearly reached the Florida House floor several times, barely held back by efforts to modify it. It calls for any school administrator who knows of a change in a students sexual orientation or gender identity to let the parents know as quickly as possible and is part of the “parent’s rights” portion of the bill.
This is catastrophic for both young people and teachers. LGBTQ+ youth face being outed in dangerous situations, facing abuse or homelessness as a result, and more accepting teachers face being sued by angry parents for not outing their child to them. It is a lose-lose situation for everyone.
The amendment to out students does not just apply to LGBTQ+ students either. It also proposes informing parents when their child seeks mental health services as well. For young people in a abusive situations or with parents who don’t believe in mental health problems this takes away their only outlet for help and will likely lead to increased rates of mental health crises and suicidal action statewide.
Florida’s conservative “parent’s rights” movement has gotten completely out of hand. They already crossed a line by banning critical race theory, despite it not being taught at a K-12 level. More specifically they “banned conversations in schools that make someone feel ‘guilt’ about their race” Republican lawmakers have forced teachers to toe the line between inclusive education and lawsuits from parents, creating an incredibly tense and restrictive education environment much to the students’ detriment.
Florida lawmakers should be ashamed of their blatant homophobia and disrespect for the historic accomplishments of LGBTQ+ people. The “Don’t Say Gay” bill is morally and constitutionally wrong. It should not be allowed to remain operational in Florida or be implemented in any other states. As a country we need to stand up and stop taking steps backwards in the marathon for human rights.
If you would like to help LGBTQ+ youth who will inevitably face abuse, rejection and homelessness in Florida as a result of this bill, please consider donating to The Trevor Project, a well-established foundation for LGBTQ+ youth.
