Florida state Board of Education proposes rule to expand 'Don't Say Gay' restrictions
One year after the state Legislature adopted the Parental Rights in Education bill, which prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3, the state Board of Education is now considering expanding the measure through 12th grade.
The Board of Education proposed a new rule prohibiting such instruction from grades 4-12, unless it is either "expressly required by state academic standards … or is part of a reproductive health course or health lesson for which a student’s parent has the option to have his or her student not attend.”
The proposal comes as some state legislators, whose session began March 7, have proposed bills aiming to restrict health care for transgender Floridians and to regulate their activities, especially in school.
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Critics last year dubbed the Parental Rights in Education bill the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Here is the latest on the Board of Education’s proposed rule as well as some legislative measures related to LGBTQ rights.
When will the board vote on the measure?
The state Board of Education is scheduled to vote April 19. The rule does not require legislative approval.
The public can watch the meeting at fldoe.org/policy/state-board-of-edu.
The seven board members have been appointed either by Gov. Ron DeSantis or by former GOP Gov. Rick Scott.
What repercussions will teachers face?
According to the proposed rule, it is intended to "provide ethical guidelines for Florida educators to practice and be held accountable for, if there is a violation of the principles."
If the measure passes, violations could result in suspension or revocation of a teacher's educator's certificate.
The rule also stipulates that teachers cannot “harass or discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background.”
What laws have the state Legislature proposed regarding LGBTQ rights?
Several additional laws being proposed in the latest Legislative session aim to expand upon last year’s parental rights bill.
Senate Bill 1320, proposed by Sen. Clay Yarborough, and House Bill 1223, proposed by Rep. Adam Anderson, would apply the restrictions on sexual orientation and gender identity instruction from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
The bills would prohibit teachers from referring to someone by pronouns that don’t correspond with that person’s sex assigned at birth. They would also offer protection to students who don’t want to refer to fellow students by their desired pronouns.
These bills, plus another bill by Rep. Stan McClain, would require schools to teach male and female sexuality, and that “these reproductive roles are binary, stable and unchangeable.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida Ed Board to vote on expanding 'Don't Say Gay' restrictions
