The bill has also come under fire because it would prevent schools from withholding certain information from parents. The whole focus of the legislation is to leave political agendas out of the classroom and in the hands of the students’ parents. The bill isn’t telling you to support, or not support, the LGBTQ+ community.
Now, under the new law, you most likely can’t “say gay” in these classroom settings, but that also means you can’t teach opposing worldviews either, such as “homosexuality is a sin.” This essentially means teachers cannot bring topics of sexual orientation, gender identity and/or discussion deemed not “age-appropriate” into the classroom or into the curriculum from kindergarten until third grade.
The main points of controversy come in two places, with the first “… prohibiting classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels or in a specified manner.”Īnd second, the grade levels in question are also clarified in the legislation: “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on 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.” Critics of the measure have given it the catchy title “Don’t Say Gay” bill, but is that really a fitting name?įor starters, the real title of the bill is far less flashy: “ Florida House Bill 1557: Parental Rights in Education.” Reading through the legislation, you will find a conservative-leaning document outlining just that - parents’ rights. After passing in the state Senate, the legislation blew up online for its controversial nature, even recently sparking a staff town hall meeting from The Walt Disney Co. If you’re on social media, you have likely heard of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill.