Texas GOP To Intro “Don’t Say Gay” Bills Tomorrow

The Texas Tribune reports:

Two bills that would ban classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in Texas public schools before certain grade levels are poised to receive top Republican backing in this year’s legislative session.

But critics warn that the legislation could further marginalize LGBTQ students and families while exposing teachers to potential legal threats.

The two bills — authored by Reps. Steve Toth and Jared Patterson (photo) — closely resemble legislation out of Florida that critics dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law. House Bill 631 and House Bill 1155 are among a flurry of anti-LGBTQ legislation awaiting lawmakers when they return to the Capitol on Tuesday.

Read the full article. Patterson last appeared here in November 2022 when he proposed a bill that would effectively outlaw all drag shows in Texas.

As with Florida’s law, the language in Patterson’s bill fails to define what is specifically age or developmentally-appropriate — another issue that critics and LGBTQ+ advocates affected, like @equalityfl, have brought up.https://t.co/ereL9m1w5F

— Christopher Wiggins (@CWNewser) January 5, 2023