Don’t Say Gay: Florida’s controversial anti-LGBTQ bill is here
On Friday, July 1 2022 the state of Florida finally enacted their controversial ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill statewide. Teachers were instructed to take down all pride flags and any other merchandise which celebrates or recognizes the LGBTQ community. Teachers were told not to wear rainbows of any kind, and LGBTQ teachers were told to take down any family photos that included same sex couplings from their classroom spaces.
The bill restricts what teachers and school officials who work with students in kindergarten through first grade can say about gender and sexuality while at school. School employees who work with grades above that are restricted from speaking about issues which might be considered developmentally inappropriate, however the bill does not make any such stipulations about what that might actually be.
The law provides parents the right to sue school districts for providing information that they deem inappropriate to their students. Governor DeSantis is pushing to have this provision extended to topics such as race, racism, and U.S. History as well.
The vague wording of Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill will place both LGBTQ staff and students in danger, forcing both groups to hide their identities. The looming threat of being fired and sued will mean teachers will no longer be able to provide safe spaces for LGBTQ students to talk about their issues, which places the lives of LGBTQ students at risk.
The White House released a statement on Friday which condemned Florida’s bill. It reads:
“This is not an issue of ‘parents’ rights.’ This is discrimination, plain and simple. It’s part of a disturbing and dangerous nationwide trend of right-wing politicians cynically targeting LGBTQI+ students, educators, and individuals to score political points. It encourages bullying and threatens students’ mental health, physical safety, and well-being. It censors dedicated teachers and educators who want to do the right thing and support their students. And it must stop.”
In the wake of the enactment of the legislation, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona said, “I’ve spoken to parents and families in Florida numerous times, and they’ve consistently told me that this legislation doesn’t represent them or what they want for their children, and that it put Florida students in danger of bullying and worse mental health outcomes.”
In 2017, Florida Health released a study that showed 40% of Floridian LGBTQ teens seriously contemplated suicide, as opposed to 10% of the non LGBTQ population. 32% of LGBTQ teens in Florida made a suicide plan, as opposed to 7% of non LGBTQ teens. And 23% of LGBTQ teens in Florida attempted suicide, as opposed to 5% of non LGBTQ teens.
With the restrictions this discriminatory bill is now imposing on the LGBTQ youth in Florida, those numbers are likely to rise.
If you are an LGBTQ teen in Florida and find yourself struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out. Resources include:
Crisis text line: Text CONNECT to 741741
The Trevor Project: www.trevorproject.com allows for texting, calling, and in website chatting with a counselor
Suicide prevention lifeline: suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-yourself/lgbtq
