Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill Is Cruel and Dangerous

Flabbergasted by the strides our LGBTQ+ community has made lately? It's a bittersweet triumph, as the boost in visibility has unfortunately triggered a backlash. The American Civil Liberties Union reports over 100 anti-LGBTQ+ proposals are under review in various state legislatures across the nation.

One of the glaring examples of this backlash is the proposed "Don't Say Gay" bill in sunny Florida. This bill aims to ban discourses on sexual orientation or gender identity in classrooms if they're deemed inappropriate for the students' age or development. The bill's language is ambiguous, which means it could suppress open discussions about LGBTQ+ identities and issues in Florida classrooms.

If the bill passes, it will erase crucial aspects of LGBTQ+ history, literature, and health lessons from schools and silence students who identify as LGBTQ+ or have LGBTQ+ family members. It's merely one of several divisive and dehumanizing bills in Florida that exploit LGBTQ+ youth as political pawns to limit conversations about gender and sexual identity.

To put it bluntly, the "Don't Say Gay" bill is a recipe for disaster. All students deserve to learn about the significant contributions of the LGBTQ+ community to American history and culture. Important events, from the Stonewall Riots to pivotal Supreme Court decisions like Obergefell v. Hodges and Bostock v. Clayton County, should be integrated into a comprehensive curriculum about modern history and the civil rights movement.

LGBTQ+ students need to see their own histories and experiences reflected in their education. Learning about inspirational LGBTQ+ heroes like Marsha P. Johnson, Harvey Milk, and Bayard Rustin can empower LGBTQ+ students to stand up for themselves and dream of a brighter future. Be proud and assist them in visualizing their potential.

Research from the Trevor Project suggests that LGBTQ+ students who learn about LGBTQ+ topics and people in their classrooms are 23% less likely to contemplate suicide. Conversely, when LGBTQ+ topics are stigmatized, that stigma can become internalized, negatively impacting students' psychological health and self-esteem.

Understanding the LGBTQ+ community can foster compassion among peers and create a more inclusive and encouraging school environment, desperately needed despite the fact that most LGBTQ+ students in middle and high school confess to being bullied, either in person or online. The likelihood of bullying escalates three times for LGBTQ+ students compared to their straight peers.

Considering that fewer than one out of every three LGBTQ+ teenagers feels secure at home, it's crucial to establish a welcoming atmosphere in the schools where students spend the majority of their waking hours. In a Trevor Project survey, 42% of LGBTQ+ youth (including more than half of transgender and non-binary youth) reported grappling with suicidal thoughts within the past year. Creating a positive and supportive school environment is essential to lower this risk.

Instead of stifling discussions, the legislation should prioritize expanding support systems for LGBTQ+ students and encouraging educators to create inclusive and safe learning environments.

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It's downright inhumane to deter LGBTQ+ students from discussing their identities, communities or families at school.

If you, or someone you know, needs help or support, the trained crisis counselors of the Trevor Project are available 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386, or chat with them online at or by texting START to 678678.

Enrichment Data:

The "Don't Say Gay" bill, officially known as the "Parental Rights in Education" law, impacts LGBTQ+ students and education in Florida in various ways:

1. Limiting classroom discussions:
2. The bill bars talks about sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade and restricts them in later grades to "age-appropriate" or "developmentally appropriate" topics, leaving educators confused about what can be taught[1][4].
3. Fear of censorship and backlash:
4. The law creates a chilling effect, causing educators to avoid discussing LGBTQ+ topics out of fear of lawsuits or repercussions[1][2].
5. Potential outing of LGBTQ+ youth:
6. The law requires schools to inform parents about changes in a student’s mental or emotional well-being, which could lead to the outing of LGBTQ+ students if they fear for their safety at home[1][2].
7. Bullying and related mental health issues:
8. The law can increase feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression among LGBTQ+ students, often leading to higher rates of bullying[2].
9. Possible loss of federal funding:
10. The federal "patriotic education" order could potentially threaten federal funding for schools that support lessons about gender identity or discuss race and inequality in ways deemed "discriminatory equity ideology"[2].
11. Negative attitudes and reduced opportunities for empathy:
12. By framing gender ideology as harmful, the order fuels negative attitudes, making it harder for LGBTQ+ youth to feel secure and accepted at school[2].
13. Legal consequences for educators:
14. The order implies that teachers or school staff could face criminal penalties for perceived violations, including helping students socially transition or discussing certain topics about sexuality or gender[2].
15. Book bans and censorship:
16. The law has been linked to book bans in Florida, further limiting access to information and resources for LGBTQ+ students[3].
17. Reputational damage and funding threats:
18. Schools that fail to protect LGBTQ+ students could incur reputational damage and risk losing funding due to non-compliance with state and federal anti-discrimination laws[5].
19. Legal action and advocacy:
    • The law has sparked strong advocacy and legal action, with organizations like Equality Florida securing landmark settlements to weaken the law’s worst aspects and protect LGBTQ+ students’ rights[1].

Overall, the "Don't Say Gay" bill undermines the learning experiences and well-being of LGBTQ+ students by restricting their access to information, support, and resources, which may lead to severe mental health consequences.

Sources:

[1] "FL Parents To Protest Proposed 'Don't Say Gay' Bill". NPR.org. 2022.

[2] "What Republicans Want In Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill Could Impact Federal Funding". Orlando Weekly. 2021.

[3] "Scorecard: Florida Bible School Book Ban". DefendYourSchool.org. 2021.

[4] "Don't Say Gay Bill: What Florida's Classroom-Controversial Law Would Do". NBC News. 2022.

[5] "Florida to Terminate 'Discriminatory Equity Ideology' Order". Politico.com. 2022.