Let's Talk About Florida's "Don't Say Gay Bill"

It's more than just a catchy name, it's the erasure of hundreds of students in schools across Florida.

The years 2020 and 2021 have sen the largest amount of anti-LGBTQIA+ legislation passed. Sports and schools do not remain untouched.

Florida's new bill is just one of many that limit and cause harm to teens and youth who are LGBTQIA+.

Let's talk about why it's a problem.

So...what is it in the first place?

Simply put, the bill makes discussing LGBTQIA+ identities, culture, and topics illegal in schools. This includes students discussing family members who may be LGBTQIA+. It is meant to stop teachers by having these important discussions by scaring them, and harming students in the process.

This effectively erases and invalidates LGBTQIA+ youth by making it illegal to discuss in schools.

For many LGBTQIA+ students, schools are the only and only place where they can come out to trusted friends and be themselves without having to worry about negative responses from family.

Even worse...

Before it was removed, a new addition to the bill would require schools and teachers to "out" any LGBTQIA+ person they knew of to the students' family.

"Outing" refers to revealing the gender identity, sexuality, or pronouns of a person without their consent.

Outing students can cause harmful and dangerous living situations for LGBTQIA+ minors.

LGBTQIA+ teens deserve and need to be appreciated and supported in all environments, especially in schools, which may be the safest place for them.

By teaching students about LGBTQIA+ history, identities, and culture, we can raise the next generation of students to be more accepting, lowering the large amounts of homophobia and transphobia the LGBTQIA+ community already faces.

Let's require LGBTQIA+ history, identities, and culture be taught in the public school curriculum. Let's make sure that all students and teens feel safe and accepted in their communities.