The House Education committee rejects a bill prohibiting teachers from discussing gender identity or sexual orientation in classrooms. The measure failed on a four to seven vote. A similar bill recently passed in Florida is dubbed by opponents as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill”.
Bossier Parish Republican Dodie Horton says her bill is fairly straightforward.
“The subject of sexual orientation or gender identity can not become the topic of the classroom discussion or instructional time apart from an approved age-appropriate state standard class curriculum,” said Horton.
Under Horton’s HB 837, teachers would not be allowed to discuss the topics of gender preference or sexual orientation with kids in grades K through 8. The bill drew opposition from several witnesses, like Brenna Wells, with the LSU School of Social work and LGBTQ Studies, who calls the bill mean-spirited.
“Sexual identity and gender identity is found within ourselves and it’s part of who we are, this bill will create an unnecessary stigma around LGBTQ-plus youth that will damage their childhood and future,” said Wells.
Committee member and New Orleans Representative Aimee Freeman says the language of Horton’s bill is “too broad” and does not need to be part of state statutes.
“This can be dealt with at the school board level and at BESE and this is the inappropriate place for this discussion, so I can not support this bill,” said Freeman.
Horton says her bill isn’t intended to hurt or discriminate against anyone, but to assure children aren’t exposed to inappropriate adult topics.
“This is to codify what can be done while teaching and cannot be done within the classroom instruction time,” said Horton.
Supporters of Horton’s bill say sexual identity should be taught in the home.
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