Claim: Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill silences dialogue on LGBTQIA+ matters in all public schools.
Reality: House Bill 1557 prevents school personnel from pushing planned instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity for children from K-3rd grade (ages 5-9), while also providing multiple protections for parental involvement in public schooling. The bill itself does not even include the word “gay”.
The legislative text for the HB 1557 Bill – outlines what information is barred from being shared with students as well as what rights are afforded to parents in regards to the proliferation of sexual education in public schools.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1557/BillText/er/PDF
While critics have often tried to argue that the bill may allow for the range of these restrictions to be interpreted differently, Governor Ron Desantis, the chief individual responsible for signing the bill into law, has clarified on various occasions when and where the bill should apply.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkONEJCsddM&ab_channel=WPTVNews-FLPalmBeachesandTreasureCoast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXjB30rAUbw&ab_channel=WFLANewsChannel8
An example of a situation the Parental Rights in Education Bill was designed to prevent – in this particular case, a young woman in a public school last year presented with gender dysphoria and school officials directed the student to pursue a gender transition, knowingly concealed their actions from her parents, and even discussed restroom preferences and name changes without her parent’s consent or knowledge. The parents of the student have since filed a lawsuit against the school district for said actions.
Case Report:
https://tallahasseereports.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Complaint-As-Filed-101821.pdf
News Article:
