Photo by Brooke Thorington
A bill that would forbid school teachers and staff from classroom discussion of gender identity and sexual preference topics clears its first legislative hurdle. Bossier Parish republican Representative Dodie Horton sponsors the legislation. In the House Education Committee, Baton Rouge Rep. Barbara Frieberg tells Horton her bill is not necessary…:
“I believe this should be a local issue, and I’d like you to tell me why local school boards – who control curriculum in local districts – shouldn’t control this…” says Frieberg.
Horton says local school districts tell her the policy would be more defensible from a legal standpoint, if it is set into state statutes…:
“They’re always being threatened with lawsuits, and they felt that it would give them the cover that they would need to be able to build a policy around.”
Horton’s House Bill 466 has been criticized as a “Don’t Say Gay” bill, but she says it would simply ban discussing such topics with students in class or during extracurricular activities. It also addresses use of so-called “preferred pronouns,” stating teachers are not required to use them, unless parents have given permission/request to address their child as such. Claiborne Parish Rep. Patrick Jefferson worries the bill would mean students can no longer seek advice from teachers…:
“This prevents an educator…a trained individual…from having a dialog where a child may have a question,” he says.0306
Horton says the bill would only apply to such discussion in class or school-sanctioned activities. She says a student could seek advice from a teacher otherwise…:
“Outside the classroom, absolutely.”
By a vote of 7 “yeas” and 5 “nays”, the bill moves to the House floor for debate. Horton filed the same bill last year, but withdrew it due to lack of support.
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