‘Don’t Say Gay’ Could Go National
USAmericans should vote on November 8
A few months ago, the Florida “Don’t Say Gay” law took effect under Governor Ron DeSantis. It prevents K–3 teachers from talking about gender identity and sexual orientation to students. Alabama imitated it. Now, Republicans want to bring it nationwide and expand it to apply not only to schools but to any institution that receives federal funds.
Under the proposed law, federally funded institutions would not be allowed to provide any form of “sexual education” or any “material of a sexual nature” to children under 10 years old. There could be no discussion of “sexual orientation” or “gender identity,” no description of “sexual activity,” not even a description of human genitals if it’s deemed “lewd” or “lascivious.”
If parents identified any prohibited content, they could sue.
You can read the bill (PDF). It was introduced by Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, and it has many Republican cosponsors.
Who It Would Hurt
The law would be used to target:
- LGBTQ adult professionals (by making them vulnerable to being sued)
- children with LGBTQ family members (by preventing them from acknowledging their families)
