To the first point, Florida has already banned sex education until Grade 5. “The law is meant to protect students from teachers.” “The bill only bans discussion of LGBTQ topics that isn’t age appropriate.” “Why are children in kindergarten learning about sex - any kind of sex?” I will, however, say how heartbroken I am to have heard so many people I know and respect parrot the many “sensible” justifications for the bill. Want proof? Legislatures in 20 states from Alabama to Ohio are already moving forward with copycat legislation.Īs for the law itself, I won’t relitigate its details here, except to say that it is harmful, intentionally divisive and engineered to push gay, lesbian and trans people back into the shadows.
Rather, the entire pathetic saga is part of a bigger push to undermine the rights of LGBTQ Americans and use their identities as a wedge issue. Many have wondered how one education bill could be worth all the trouble, but the answer is depressingly clear: this is not about a single piece of legislation in Florida.
For the past two weeks, Florida legislators have waged all-out war against opponents of legislation that limits discussion of LGBTQ topics in school.
