Florida Republicans last week voted to ban discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in school classrooms. The Parental Rights in Education bill, also known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, passed Thursday in the House Education and Employment Committee largely along party lines and would bar educators from talking about LGBTQ+ topics, claiming it’s not “age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”
The legislation also allows parents to take legal action against their child’s school district and be awarded damages “if they believe” any of its policies infringe on their “fundamental right to make decisions regarding the upbringing and control of their children.” Florida state Rep. Joe Harding (R), who first introduced the bill to block teachers in Florida from talking about LGBTQ+ topics in schools, said the bill “is about defending the most awesome responsibility a person can have: being a parent. That job can only be given to you by above.”
