Florida education officials voted on Wednesday to ban classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in all public school grades, expanding on a law signed by Republican governor Ron DeSantis that barred such lessons for younger students and was derided by critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The new rule is part of a broader rightward push on cultural issues championed by DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for president in 2024. The board, whose members are appointed by the governor, unanimously approved prohibiting lessons on gender identity orsexual orientation in grades four through 12, unless the instruction is required by state standards or is part of a health class that parents can opt their children out of.
Last year, DeSantis signed legislation that outlawed instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation from kindergarten through third grade, arguing that parents, rather than teachers, should decide when to discuss those subjects with their children.
Critics, including Democratic President Joe Biden, said the law would marginalise already vulnerable LGBTQ students. The statute sparked an ongoing battle between DeSantis and the Walt Disney Co,after the entertainment corporation publicly opposed the law. Many opponents said the rule’s language was so vague that teachers would likely avoid the subjects altogether rather than risk theircareers. Some speakers asked whether teachers might skip works of fiction that feature gay characters, for instance, while others wondered whether LGBTQ students, or students with LGBTQ families,would feel unable to discuss their personal lives in class. Violating the rule could result in suspension of an educator’s teaching license. The regulation does not require legislative approval.
North Carolina bans trans athletes
Transgender girls in North Carolina would be prohibited from joining female sports teams in middle school, high school and college under legislation passed Wednesday by the Republican-controlled House in one of its first actions since attaining a supermajority earlier this month. The House approved legislation 73-39, with three Democrats voting in favour, to separate sports by biological sex, based solely on students’ “reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”
Trans girls would not be allowed to play on any sports team that corresponds with their gender identity. Trans boys and cisgender girls could only play on teams designated for male athletes if there was no comparable girls’ team, except forwrestling.
Last year, DeSantis signed legislation that outlawed instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation from kindergarten through third grade, arguing that parents, rather than teachers, should decide when to discuss those subjects with their children.
Critics, including Democratic President Joe Biden, said the law would marginalise already vulnerable LGBTQ students. The statute sparked an ongoing battle between DeSantis and the Walt Disney Co,after the entertainment corporation publicly opposed the law. Many opponents said the rule’s language was so vague that teachers would likely avoid the subjects altogether rather than risk theircareers. Some speakers asked whether teachers might skip works of fiction that feature gay characters, for instance, while others wondered whether LGBTQ students, or students with LGBTQ families,would feel unable to discuss their personal lives in class. Violating the rule could result in suspension of an educator’s teaching license. The regulation does not require legislative approval.
North Carolina bans trans athletes
Transgender girls in North Carolina would be prohibited from joining female sports teams in middle school, high school and college under legislation passed Wednesday by the Republican-controlled House in one of its first actions since attaining a supermajority earlier this month. The House approved legislation 73-39, with three Democrats voting in favour, to separate sports by biological sex, based solely on students’ “reproductive biology and genetics at birth.”
Trans girls would not be allowed to play on any sports team that corresponds with their gender identity. Trans boys and cisgender girls could only play on teams designated for male athletes if there was no comparable girls’ team, except forwrestling.