Tag Archives: DOn’t Say Gay

The Texas Tribune reports: The Texas Senate has once again advanced legislation that would severely limit classroom lessons, teacher guidance and school programming about sexual orientation and gender identity through 12th grade in Texas schools. The upper chamber voted 19-12 Monday to preliminarily approve House Bill 890 after the Senate education committee added the proposed restrictions to the legislation. This …

Austin’s CBS affiliate reports: LGBTQ advocacy groups and some members of the community are saying the Texas Senate is attempting to covertly add “don’t say gay” language to House Bill 890. During a Senate Committee on Education meeting this week, Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Texas, amended HB 890, which relates to parental rights and the responsibilities of public schools. The changes …

The Louisiana Illuminator reports: The Louisiana House passed a so-called Don’t Say Gay bill Tuesday that would prohibit teachers from discussing gender identity or sexual orientation, and it would protect only teachers and parents who hold conservative views of transgender rights. House Bill 466, sponsored by Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton, passed in a 67-28 vote. Similar to a bill the …

The Associated Press reports: Indiana’s governor on Thursday signed a bill that will require schools to notify a parent if a student requests a name or pronoun change at school, one of the final bills approved in a legislative session that had targeted LGBTQ+ people in the state, especially students. Critics worry the law could out transgender children to their …

ABC News reports: The Florida Board of Education has voted to expand restrictions on classroom instruction related to sexual orientation and gender identity. This rule would build on the Parental Rights in Education law Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in March 2022. The law bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for students in kindergarten through third grade. …

Reuters reports: Florida officials are expected on Wednesday to consider largely prohibiting classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in all grades, expanding on a law signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis that barred such lessons for elementary-age students. The proposed rule, which does not require legislative approval, is part of a broader rightward push on cultural issues that …

The Tallahassee Democrat reports: The Florida House on Friday took a step toward expanding a controversial 2022 law that prevents instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity in early school grades, approving a measure that would broaden the prohibition through eighth grade. The wide-ranging bill (HB 1069) also seeks to restrict the way teachers and students can use preferred pronouns …

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports: Heavy fog blanketed Kentucky’s state Capitol Wednesday morning, at points so dense it rendered the Capitol building invisible. But the fuzzy outlines of people standing in throngs outside the Capitol and gathering in clumps in the parking garage could not be erased. Hundreds of LGBTQ+ youths and their allies, young and old, protested as a last-ditch …

The Associated Press reports: Kentucky’s Democratic governor issued an election-year veto Friday of a Republican bill aimed at regulating the lives of transgender youths that includes banning access to gender-affirming health care and restricting the bathrooms they can use. The bill also bans discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in schools and allows teachers to refuse to refer to …

The Associated Press reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is moving to forbid classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in all grades, expanding the controversial law critics call “Don’t Say Gay” as the Republican governor continues a focus on cultural issues ahead of his expected presidential run. The proposal, which would not require legislative approval, is scheduled for …

The Associated Press reports: The former Florida lawmaker who sponsored the controversial law critics call “Don’t Say Gay” pleaded guilty late Tuesday to committing $150,000 in COVID-19 relief fraud. Joseph Harding, a 35-year-old Republican, pleaded guilty in Gainesville federal court to wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud, according to court records. He …

The Louisville Courier-Journal reports: HB 470 would forbid Kentucky schools from discussing sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression – a key component of “Don’t Say Gay” bills popping up across the country. Schools also would not be allowed to offer instruction on human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases before sixth grade. Senate Bill 150, the sole “parents’ rights”-style bill …

The right wing Florida’s Voice reports: WPLG 10 reporter Trent Kelly was ignored by some officials of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration after he approached them following a press conference using a false term for the Parental Rights in Education Act. The video depicted Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez and Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Jr., leaving a room and being followed …

Florida News Service reports: The Republican-controlled House Choice & Innovation Subcommittee voted 14-4 along almost-straight party lines to approve the proposal (HB 1223), after numerous LGBTQ advocates slammed the bill as harmful to vulnerable youths. Rep. Lisa Dunkley, D-Sunrise, voted with Republicans for the measure. The 2022 law, which drew national attention and federal court challenges, prohibited instruction about sexual …

The Ocala Gazette reports: A change of plea hearing has been set in the case of former State Rep. Joe Harding, who faces several federal charges related to allegations that he defrauded a pandemic-related government small business loan program. The hearing has been set for 4 p.m. March 21 at the U.S. Courthouse in Gainesville. Harding, an Ocala Republican who …

Little Rock’s CBS affiliate reports: On Wednesday, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders officially signed the Arkansas LEARNS Act into law. The governor, who considers this bill to be “the boldest, most far-reaching, most conservative education reforms in the country,” wasted no time signing the bill after its advancement from the Senate just yesterday. The Republican-held Senate voted 26-8 to send to …

The Huffington Post reports: Rep. Phil Christofanelli, a gay Republican, challenged Rep. Ann Kelley on the House floor last week over the logic of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill she sponsored, wondering if it would also prohibit teaching about heterosexuality, which is a sexual orientation. “You mentioned George Washington. Who is Martha Washington?” Christofanelli asked. “His wife,” Kelley answered. “Under …

NBC News reports: Missouri lawmakers argued over a bill that would ban most LGBTQ education subjects for all grades in the state’s public schools. The Missouri bill debated in a state House committee hearing would ban K-12 public school staff from teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation. “Exposure to such topics is inappropriate for children, creating confusion which may …

The Georgia Recorder reports: A watered-down version of a bill opponents called Georgia’s version of “Don’t Say Gay” legislation appears dead in the water after failing in a crucial Senate committee Wednesday. The first version of the bill would have restricted schools, camp counselors and other authority figures from answering children’s questions about gender identity or sexual orientation. The latest …

Tampa’s ABC affiliate reports: Florida lawmakers introduced legislation to prohibit someone describing themselves or others with pronouns besides the ones they were born with, at least in the context of the Florida education system. It also expands bans on sexual orientation and gender identity topics in schools from kindergarten to third grade, as set up by Florida’s “Parental Rights in …