Troubling reports from teachers in Florida as the state readies itself for ‘Don’t Say Gay‘
The law (HB 1557), formally titled the “Parental Rights in Education” bill, goes into full effect on July 1, after being signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in March.
The bill, informally referred to as ‘Don’t Say Gay’, prevents instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade, and has garnered global attention for a number of reasons.
One being that the Republican-proposed bill notes any “such instruction” (talking about it) should be “age-appropriate, in accordance with state academic standards” in older grades.
The bill was universally slammed for its insanely vague use of language, essentially leaving it open to interpretation by individuals applying it.
While GOP politicians (not known to be supporters of LGBTQ+ people, in fact regularly calling us ‘groomers’) and their subscribers peddled the law as reasonable legislation which ‘has nothing to do with being anti-gay’, activists and campaigners warned that its real impact was something far more sinister in motive. President Joe Biden slammed it as agreed and condemned it as being “hateful.”
Teachers in Orange County, FL today (June 29), reported they had been told to ‘scrape off rainbow stickers’, placed to indicate an area as being a ‘safe space’ for kids, from classrooms, and remove photos of their families from their desks if they have a same-sex spouse.
NEW: LGBTQ teachers in Orange County, Florida are being told to take down photos of their same-sex spouses in their classrooms and not to talk about them to students following the Don’t Say Gay law taking effect. All rainbow articles of clothing are being banned, per @wftv.
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) June 29, 2022
They have also reportedly been instructed to declare if a student comes out as LGBTQ and teachers “must use pronouns assigned at birth, regardless of what the parents allow,” the CTA reported.
Representatives for Orange County teachers association said teachers and staff members will be banned ‘from wearing rainbow articles of clothing, including lanyards’ distributed by the district last year, WFTV reports.
In addition, elementary-level teachers have been ‘discouraged’ from displaying pictures of their same-sex spouse at their desk or even talking about them to students, rules which seemingly aren’t being applied to their straight peers.
In the same district, teachers in queer relationships are being advised to remove any family portraits. Staff can’t even wear rainbow clothing.
We always knew what this was about, silencing LGBTQ+ people.
— Jack Petocz (@Jack_Petocz) June 28, 2022
The so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill has been slammed by LGBTQ+ activists, human rights advocates and public figures globally for having a potentially devastating impact on the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth and their families – an already vulnerable part of society with dangerously alarming suicide statistics.
Parents can also sue school districts over violations, fuelling a long-fought culture of fear over essential LGBTQ+ visibility.
Under this bill, parents can also decline any mental, emotional and physical health services available to their children at school, and schools will be required to notify parents of their child’s use of school health services unless there is reason to believe “that disclosure would subject the student to abuse, abandonment or neglect.”
The law comes into effect on July 1.
This is @GovRonDeSantis ‘ censorship agenda. Across the state, books with LGBTQ are being hidden in classroom closets, rainbows are being torn down, and LGBTQ families are being erased. (2/4)
— Equality Florida (@equalityfl) June 28, 2022
Orange County Public Schools must immediately issue written guidance clarifying the way they will implement the law and affirming their commitment to ensure every student is protected and every family is respected. (4/4)
— Equality Florida (@equalityfl) June 28, 2022