Alabama lawmakers expand horrific ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill to all public school grades under proposal
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In a shocking turn of events, lawmakers in Alabama have proposed to expand the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill to all public school grades, further restricting how schools in the state can address LGBTQ+ topics. The House Education Policy Committee approved the expanded bill on 20 March, which would ban teacher-led discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity in all classrooms. It would also prohibit the display of Pride flags in schools across the state.
Currently, the law prohibits such open discussions and support of the LGBTQ+ community in elementary school, serving children from Kindergarten to Grade 8. The proposed expansion would encompass all grades up to Grade 12. In addition to these restrictions, an amendment was added to prohibit school employees from displaying flags representing sexual or gender identity on public school property.
The sponsor of the bill claimed that the expansion is necessary to prevent students from being “indoctrinated,” while opposing lawmakers argued that the state is essentially “bullying” LGBTQ+ citizens and their allies. The bill is now set to move to the full Alabama House of Representatives for further consideration.
House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels expressed his concerns about the bill, stating, “We’re bullying a certain class or group of people because they don’t have the representation to fight back.” Similar bills have been proposed in other states, such as Florida, where an extension to the Parental in Education Act was passed last year. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has also proposed an expansion to forbid classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades.
However, the Florida law was recently legally challenged, allowing students and teachers to continue discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity. A settlement between Florida education officials and civil rights attorneys clarified that the law does not prohibit the discussion of LGBTQ+ people or prevent anti-bullying rules based on sexual orientation or gender identity. It also does not disallow Gay-Straight Alliance groups in schools.
The settlement also addressed the issue of library books not being used for instructional purposes in the classroom. For books with incidental references to LGBTQ+ characters or same-sex couples, it was ruled that they are not considered instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity any more than a math problem involving apples is instruction on apple farming.
As the debate over the expansion of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill continues in Alabama, advocates for LGBTQ+ rights are pushing back against these restrictive measures. The implications of such legislation extend beyond just classrooms, impacting the well-being and visibility of LGBTQ+ individuals in society.
In a time when inclusivity and acceptance are paramount, it is essential to consider the harmful effects of legislation that seeks to silence and erase marginalized communities. The battle for equality and respect for all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, continues to be a crucial issue in our society today.
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