The Republican dominated Florida Senate passed House Bill (CS/CS/HB) 1557: Parental Rights in Education that will prohibit “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in all of Florida’s primary schools. The “Don’t Say Gay” bill was passed by the Florida state House in February and now goes to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who supports the bill restricting sexual orientation and gender identity and is expected to sign it into law.
The legislation bans “classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity” in kindergarten through third grade, and does not allow schools to teach “in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.” Critics of the bill, which allows student’s parents the ability to sue school districts for any alleged violation, claim it will extend to all grade levels.
The ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill mandates: “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade three or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”
Supporters of the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill say it allows parents to have control over their children’s education, and opponents say targets the LGBTQ community.
The ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, passed by the Florida Senate, will ban curriculum concerning LGBTQ issues in Florida classrooms
Republican Sen. Danny Burgess said, “This bill says parents your right to raise your children does not end when they walk into a classroom. This bill recognizes that parents are not the enemy, The bill simply says that there should be an age limit on certain discussions, it’s not a new concept, nor is it radical.”
Democratic Florida said state senator Tina Polsky, said, “What we really need to be doing is teaching tolerance, caring, loving, anti-discrimination, anti-bigotry. Tell me how this bill does that. Tell me how this bill is helping us create kind, giving, tolerate adults. I don’t see it. I see it as exactly the opposite.”
The CS/CS/HB 1557 full bill text reads:
Parental Rights in Education; Requires district school boards to adopt procedures that comport with certain provisions of law for notifying student’s parent of specified information; requires such procedures to reinforce fundamental right of parents to make decisions regarding upbringing & control of their children; prohibits school district from adopting procedures or student support forms that prohibit school district personnel from notifying parent about specified information or that encourage student to withhold from parent such information; prohibits school district personnel from discouraging or prohibiting parental notification & involvement in critical decisions affecting student’s mental, emotional, or physical well-being; prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels; requires school districts to notify parents of healthcare services; authorizes parent to bring action against school district to obtain declaratory judgment; provides for additional award of injunctive relief, damages, & reasonable attorney fees & court costs to certain parents.
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