The Florida State Senate is considering a law banning discussion of sexual orientation and gender identities in schools. The project outrages even the White House.
Dubbed “Don’t say gay” by its critics, the law states that a school “may not encourage conversation in a classroom about the sexual orientation or identity of gender at primary level or in a way that is not appropriate to the age or development of the pupils”.
Validated by a first Senate committee on Tuesday, the text must still be examined by two other committees before being presented to the entire House. If passed, the law could come into effect in the summer.
The project, supported by the Republican governor of Florida Ron DeSantis, reacted to the White House.
Joe Biden supports the LGBT community
“I want every member of the LGBTQI+ community — especially the children who will be affected by this hateful bill — to know that they are loved and accepted for who they are. I support you and my administration will continue to fight for the protection and security you deserve,” President Joe Biden tweeted.
If passed, this law “will kill children,” said Chasten Buttigieg, husband of the first openly gay Secretary of State Pete Buttigieg, citing a study by the Trevor Project according to which 42% of LGBT young people have seriously considered becoming commit suicide in 2021.
The California Teachers’ Association (CTA) said it was “concerned” about a climate in which “external political forces” seek to “divide” parents, teachers and schools.
Similar laws in other states
Projects similar to Florida’s have sprung up in other states. In Arizona, a text under discussion would force teachers to warn parents if their child spoke about his gender identity. In Indiana, an elected official has proposed a law that would make it mandatory to obtain parental permission before speaking to students about sexual orientation or trans identity.
In Oklahoma, school libraries are targeted. A bill seeks to ban books with “sexual preference” or “gender identity” as their main subject.
The situation reminds LGBT activists of the 1980s, when a wave of similar legislation swept through the country in the midst of an AIDS epidemic.