Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill seems to have finally brought real attention to the years-long legislative crisis unfolding against LGBTQ+ (and especially trans) people. Signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis late last month, the bill bans discussion of gender and sexual orientation until third grade, and could potentially bar such discussions at all age levels depending on what is determined to be “age appropriate.”
Among its many egregious measures, it empowers parents to sue school districts for perceived violations, and also requires schools to notify parents of any changes related to a student’s “mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being.”
Although the bill’s catchy “Don’t Say Gay” moniker has drawn international attention, this risks misleading people into believing that the law is uniquely evil. Unfortunately, it’s one of hundreds of bills filed over the past few years that seek to essentially eradicate queer people from public life. Whether framed as upholding “parental rights” or “protecting our children,” conservatives’ focus on public schools as a site of amoral contagion has been renewed with a fury perhaps not seen since the days of Anita Bryant.
As of April 13, the ACLU counts 42 bills that have been filed this year alone pertaining to school and curriculum restrictions. Below, read about three other bills that also target schools as a place to roll back LGBTQ+ rights. Unlike Florida’s, these bills are still in progress — meaning there’s still time to campaign against them.
Read on…