2 Florida bills could ban discussion of gender, sexual orientation in schools

Florida lawmakers are pushing a pair of bills through the state legislature which would ban any discussion on gender or sexual orientation from classrooms, saying it protects parents’ rights. But those against it, including many parents, say it will only harm kids.

LGBTQ+ advocates and parents are concerned that if these bills pass, they will not only erase these students’ history and culture, but they may make school an uncomfortable place for them.

The companion bills introduced by Rep. Joe Harding and Sen. Dennis Baxley would ban schools in Florida from encouraging conversations about sexual orientation and gender identity in primary grade levels. Parents of children in the LGBTQ+ community think these bills are trying to erase the existence and identity of those children, and they’re concerned that it may have a negative impact on their self-esteem.

“We know the rates of self-harm and suicide are extremely high among our transgender and gender diversity youth already, sometimes school is their only safe place,” said Meg, the mother of a nonbinary Collier County student. “If they don’t have accepting parents or caregivers in their life, they need to be able to go to that trusted teacher.”

Meg says her child told her they’ve had a very positive experience in school and that no one cares if you’re a part of the LGBTQ+ community. But she and other advocates are concerned that these companion bills will change that.

“I think there are so many important issues in our society that we could be tackling without attacking one of our most vulnerable populations, and that being transgender and gender-diverse kids,” Meg said. “I don’t know why it seems to be this older, conservative base trying to get involved in the lives of teens and youth who seem to be handling everything themselves quite well.”

WINK News reached out to the lawmakers who introduced these bills for comment. Baxley released this statement: “This bill will help us focus on the priority that our students belong to families and that they are not wards of the state. Parents should decide what is age-appropriate content for their children.”