“Don’t Say Gay” in Florida Fact vs Fiction
- by Dr. Usher
- Opinion
- Copyright February 9, 2022
- 1.4M+
Florida is considering a law that will ban the teaching of sexuality and gender identity in the public schools, also coined by ignorant people as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
I just want you to know that I personally believe that it is not the school’s responsibility to teach a child anything in regards to sex, sexuality, gender identification, or sexual preference. This duty is the sole responsibility of the parent with the assistance of a licensed medical professional of the parent’s choosing. No institution or individual should ever have the right to override nor subvert a parent’s right to raise their child as they see fit.
Opponents of Parental Rights
Right now opponents of the bill state that it is denying children their freedom and it makes them prone to being victims of bullying and discrimination. However, I would like to take a balanced approach and ask you to consider this question. Regardless of your stance in relation to LGBTQ ideologies, do you want someone who is unknown to you to teach your child about their sexuality or gender identity?
In communist China, government controlled schools teach children as young as three about sexuality using anatomically correct dolls where boys and girls can touch and explore male and female genitalia, and even practice proper heterosexual intercourse. [Read more..]
Think about it. How can you be certain that the values or views of the teacher align with your views? Let’s say you are an opponent of the bill, and you want the teachers to teach sexuality and gender identity. Would you have a problem if the teacher taught your child contrary to what you believe? I can already read some of your thoughts, and you are thinking, “Well, we would just pass laws that would ban teachers from teaching anything contrary or harmful to a child’s sexuality or gender identity.”
Now this opens up more questions. How would you define “contrary or harmful”? Would the contrary or harmful view be based on the heterosexual child’s needs or the needs of the non-hetero child? What if the teachers views are contrary or harmful to the heterosexual child? Should that be taken into consideration, or do we ignore the feelings and rights of hetero students?
As you can see, this entire issue causes more problems, more division, more harm, and more hurt to our children and our society. If we are truly a democracy with inalienable rights, then we should allow the parent to be the person solely responsible for teaching their child about sexuality and gender identity, and not a government institution.
Parents Rights
I will close with this thought. If a parent at their choosing contacts a school and request that they treat their child in a specific way, then the school should oblige. If Lisa wants to be called Johnny, and the parents approve of it, then the school should oblige. However, I am against the current notion of school systems secretly allowing children to change their sexuality and gender identity and names without the parents approval.
School districts fear that by notifying parents that they would put the child in danger. What is more dangerous: a parent who is legally responsible for caring for the child teaching their child their family values, or a teacher who has no legal responsibility teaching a child an ideology that may cause the child more trauma?
This is the case with a school in Clay County Florida. [Read more about this case.] The school traumatized the child by teaching sexuality and gender identity, and did not notify the parent of the child’s issues. In the end, the child attempted suicide.
When will we all learn that we cannot use our institutions as a tool to force religious, sexual, moral, or political ideologies. Institutions should focus solely on education, and not social engineering. It is ultimately the parent’s right and responsibility to discuss these hot topics.
Citation:
- https://www.metroparent.com/parenting/oh-mother/oh-mother-plush-sex-ed-dolls-in-chinese-school/
- http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/CHINA-SEX-EDUCATION-FOR-KIDS/4c167dd53f114c6ab25904eb1d7f495d
- https://yiyingfan.com/2021/04/23/can-anatomical-dolls-help-solve-chinas-sex-ed-problem/
- https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/education/parents-file-lawsuit-against-clay-county-schools-say-administrators-didnt-disclose-meetings-about-gender-identity-confusion-district-denies-claims/77-e2a135bd-ef65-4c35-999e-6b39ece496dd
- https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=76545
40 Responses
I realize you mentioned that ” it is not the school’s responsibility to teach a child anything in regards to sex, sexuality, gender identification, or sexual preference” and I would say I agree with that. It should be the parent’s responsibility. However, there is a flaw here. Schools do teach sex education. Some teach only abstinence, while other schools teach about safe sex. I would argue two points here. The first, and I think most important, is if you intend to leave these types of sensitive matters to the parents, then you must apply the same rule to sex education which the state does not do. The second point is that whether you agree with the LGBTQ+ community or not, the reality is that they exist. And while this law’s verbiage states “A school district may not encourage classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students,” many people are interpreting this as not being allowed to talk about it at all.
Lets talk about kids who have parents who are members of the LGBTQ+ community for a second. Some right wing parents don’t want their kids exposed to ANY LGBTQ+ information. So they would also have an issue with reading a story that involves a child having 2 moms or 2 dads. But by not including stories like this, you reinforce the ideals that it’s not only wrong to have 2 moms or 2 dads but also that it’s not acceptable. You may not see it that way, but students do. The more we treat it as something that shouldn’t be allowed the more confused our children become. They then take out that bias on students who are members of that community or have parents who are. How do I know this? Because I have 4 children who have experienced this in different ways.
My high school kid was told by a CHRISTIAN student “How does it feel to be a disappointment to your parents? You should kill yourself.” In addition to that, these same students that make comments like this and tell my child she is going to hell make up lies about her. One lie she came home upset about was that people said she was looking over the stalls at girls using the bathroom. Not only had she not been doing that, at the time that they accused her she has only been using the restroom in the nurses office to avoid conflict because the first week she started using the girls bathroom (with the schools permission) she was harassed and threatened. By the way, the reason she started using the girls bathroom was because she was actually trying to make other people more comfortable by continuing to use the boys bathroom (although that wasn’t fair to her) and she was being harassed by boys in that bathroom telling her “aren’t you in the wrong bathroom?” And proceeding to call her names and threaten her. After using the bathroom in the nurses office for over a month and not even stepping foot back into the girls bathroom, rumors started to spread that she was in there again and had been looking over the stalls. She began to get threatened again.
So making it a subject that is completely off limits as some will interpret this law will continue to reinforce the idea that being a member of the community is unacceptable. And for those of you who do not support the LGBTQ+ community, you have a right to not agree and you have a right to teach your own children your views, but that shouldn’t include acting as though these people don’t exist and don’t have a right to live. What you are teaching is not loving and that is evident in the way they treat other kids. A loving person would state their disagreement in a respectful way and leave it up to the person to make those choices for themselves.
LGBTQ does not have anything to do with immutable characteristics. No matter how intense the desire to experience homosexual activity human beings can remain celibate their entire lives and be survive individually. Whatever the emotional situation is that causes anyone to deny the physiological evidence of whether they are male or female this is not an immutable part of their identity that must be affirmed. For some very religious and conscientious persons who may or may not be religious these behaviors are Biblically rejected and this is true of other religious writings like the Torah and Quran. Our constitution speaks of the rights of freedom of and from religion. Tax paying parents of students under the age of 18 are held legally responsible for the physical well being and behavior of those students. Those parents should have input into the instructional program of the public schools K-12 and the right to opt their children out of any discussions, assemblies, or classroom instruction that conflict with the values and standards of their homes.
Mary Abbott, it’s sounds like you should remain celibate. Your ignorance about homosexuality is blinding. Your views are exactly the problem with this bill.
nice try turd . . . but thanks for playing . . with yourself
If sexuality is so immutable, then why has the suicide rate of gay people has fallen as society has become more accepting? Why is it that the suicide rate of trans people is so much higher than any other group right now? When you talk about “well-being,” what exactly does that mean to you?
I think what he is trying to say is . . well, being that you are an IDIOT . . . but then I digress
Suicide is not related to the context, it’s the emotional struggle and acceptance with something of importance to an individual.
No one commits suicide because people said mean things, it’s because they struggle with their emotions over the mean things. I attempted to Suicide once and have been seeing a therapist for the past 13 years. So I know a little about mental health and suicide.
I wish I could turn you gay with a magic spell. You’d change your views REAL quick.
The only “FLAW” is in your whole argument, the age range is 8 and below. Sex Education is not a topic at that age and never has been. Around 5th grade 10-11 years being a time just a little before girls and boys begin puberty is when some basic sex education happens explain the function and process of conception. Nothing but the reproductive perspective is in this teaching. No one is ever discussing the pleasures of sex.
The argument that kids will be teased is beyond a joke, I am 40 years old, and I was lifting weights playing soccer and boxing/kickboxing through middle/high school. All while being an artist working on graphic design and animation, I was considered to be a huge nerd. Even though i was 5’10 190lbs 14% body fat and known at my school to be an amateur kick boxer people still have the audacity to make fun of me for being a nerd collecting and drawing Anime as well as my nerd friends. However, when I was playing varsity soccer, I was treated like one of the cool kids.
The point being is that regardless of what you do the best you can do is limit bullying and teasing; you will never get rid of it. The fact that the kids people claim are victims are often becoming the bully today as they now have some power in the system to harass is a perfect example of how you can only reduce bullying from within the home by teaching your kids to have moral standing.
Stop looking for validation and vindication from the world around you and instead shape the world around you to be one you like. As in to be with like-minded people because if you force people to be of like mind you will have major rejection and more hostility.
Disney films teach children about heterosexual relationships before they can read. Why is this okay? It’s obviously sexual material, since the two main characters are sexually attracted to each other.
Its OK because basically few have ever really objected to it. And the word “sex” is not used, only love. Every kid understands love at a very early age, likely because they observe their parents do things like kiss. In fact, watching their parents display affection for one another is probably what conditions them to accept similar displays on the screen without any problems. What they see is no different than what they observe in the home. Result – no trauma, no questions.
The bill covers children from Kindergarten to grade 3. I live in Oz and know this.
Can you imagine a stranger coming up to your 5 year old child and talking to them about their sexuality!! They would be arrested. For the governor to have to legislate for this is a sad inditement of where your society is at. Opposition to this suggests you do not understand the issue, have not read the bill or support paedophilia/grooming.
Nikki, bestiality (sex with animals) is also a reality. Maybe we should teach kids in elementary school how to do it safely.
Unfortunately stories such as yours do exist, and some parents are going to interpret the law to mean LGBT lifestyles must not ever be mentioned in the classroom. But that individuals can fail to interpret the law properly is not an implication of the law itself. This happens all the time whenever new laws are passed. And for the left to call it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, is unfortunately only going to add MORE confusion and drive home the very message that you DONT want parents to take away from this. Is the left trying to doom kids by encouraging parents to be misinformed?
Note: I was replying to Nikki. Why am I not allowed to delete comments I may have posted in the wrong place??
You stated that this is for primary grades which is elementary school in my state which would agree they should not be teaching this in K-5. Secondary and middle school is not mentioned.
She talking about kids in kindergarten and first grade!! Not kids in high school! That’s totally obvious. Saying something like that is only to raise a fuss about nothing!
I agree with Nikki. The bill may not actually have any title yet (it is called Florida House Bill 1557), but even Dr. Usher here understands the purpose of the bill is stop school staff from acknowledging LGBTQ+ children. School personnel are not trained and are not advised to pressure kids to choose their gender identity. Any claims to the contrary are hysteria. Dr. Usher, the tragedy of the specific case you are citing would not be prevented by HB 1557.
Before going any further, let me be absolutely clear about the moral and legal expectations all school staff are expected to follow: All school personnel are EXPECTED to interact with children in a manner consistent with their Civil Rights under the Constitution. Further, all schoolboard policies MUST be consistent with state and federal Civil Rights legislation. This is for two reasons:
1. It’s the right thing to do.
2. It covers our asses.
School Counselors have even stricter expectations in their interactions with children because they are constantly weighing their patient’s right to confidentiality against their patient’s welfare and their parents’ concern for the child’s welfare:
https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Standards-Positions/Position-Statements/ASCA-Position-Statements/The-School-Counselor-and-Confidentiality
School counselors do not have a duty to report to parents that their kids are “feeling a little gay today” or are “feeling a little confused [about their gender]”, especially if their patient doesn’t want their parents to know.
Dr. Usher’s characterization of the Clay County case is reductive and illogical. The child was already experiencing gender dysphoria (it has a name because it’s that common). The child wanted to talk about it with the school counselor. The child told the counselor they didn’t think their parents would accept them the way they feel. What did the counselor do? Apparently, they listened and kept their conversations private because the child said they didn’t want their parents to know how they were feeling. The counselor did not condemn the child’s feelings. If there were warning signs that the child might harm themself, those details are not being discussed in interviews and they are not the basis for the lawsuit. The parents are fixated on attacking the school for allowing their child to identify with the name and gender they wanted to. The school counselor has an ethical and professional obligation to keep their patient’s revelations private. That should not even be part of the controversy. If the child said they were going to hurt themself and the counselor did nothing, then they will have plenty to answer for. However, that specific allegation is not in the lawsuit, and the transgender issue is. I think that says everything people need to know about this tragic case.
I agree with Nikki. The bill may not actually have any title yet (it is called Florida House Bill 1557), but even Dr. Usher here understands the purpose of the bill is stop school staff from acknowledging LGBTQ+ children. School personnel are not trained and are not advised to pressure kids to choose their gender identity. Any claims to the contrary are hysteria. Dr. Usher, the tragedy of the specific case you are citing would not be prevented by HB 1557.
Before going any further, let me be absolutely clear about the moral and legal expectations all school staff are expected to follow: All school personnel are EXPECTED to interact with children in a manner consistent with their Civil Rights under the Constitution. Further, all schoolboard policies MUST be consistent with state and federal Civil Rights legislation. This is for two reasons:
1. It’s the right thing to do.
2. It covers our asses.
School Counselors have even stricter expectations in their interactions with children because they are constantly weighing their patient’s right to confidentiality against their patient’s welfare and their parents’ concern for the child’s welfare:
https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Standards-Positions/Position-Statements/ASCA-Position-Statements/The-School-Counselor-and-Confidentiality
School counselors do not have a duty to report to parents that their kids are “feeling a little gay today” or are “feeling a little confused [about their gender]”, especially if their patient doesn’t want their parents to know.
Dr. Usher’s characterization of the Clay County case is reductive and illogical. The child was already experiencing gender dysphoria (it has a name because it’s that common). The child wanted to talk about it with the school counselor. The child told the counselor they didn’t think their parents would accept them the way they feel. What did the counselor do? Apparently, they listened and kept their conversations private because the child said they didn’t want their parents to know how they were feeling. The counselor did not condemn the child’s feelings. If there were warning signs that the child might harm themself, those details are not being discussed in interviews and they are not the basis for the lawsuit. The parents are fixated on attacking the school for allowing their child to identify with the name and gender they wanted to. The school counselor has an ethical and professional obligation to keep their patient’s revelations private. That should not even be part of the controversy. If the child said they were going to hurt themself and the counselor did nothing, then they will have plenty to answer for. However, that specific allegation is not in the lawsuit, and the transgender issue is. I think that says everything people need to know about this tragic case.
The subject of what is or is not appropriate reading material for schools is out of many subjects a great time to involve indigenous people preferably those who have knowledge of ancient practices to help the rest of us. I would replace the word gay with other terms that are currently in use such as two spirit and queer. Students should have as much variety of books and insight into what gender means as possible to help those who are struggling with it. More information not less. I hope some of the students are informed about their indigenous identity.
My general feeling is society is awash with all types of information on every conceivable subject, and if one wants, they can be instantly educated on every sexual practice known to man. The internet is wonderful for this. So are libraries. HOWEVER, the schools have a specific duty as required by law, have a multitude of subjects they MUST teach, and really ought to be focusing on the basics. Also, providing information upon request is not the same as attempting to influence or indoctrinate.
The bill bans the teaching of sexuality and gender identity in the public schools. No where in that statement does it say anything about gas.
Facts are facts.
You are completely incorrect. Read the bill. I does not ban such teaching: it requires it to be age appropriate and limited from grades K-3. Facts are facts.
I’m not entirely sure if you’re trying to be a smart-ass or not but what they said was accurate to what’s in the bill I’ve read the entire bill. What you said was also accurate with less words, you can’t teach or transgenderism any kind of sexual orientation or gender in the classroom. This bill specifically stops you from having any kind of classroom discussion it doesn’t stop the kids from discussing it with themselves. Simply put the teachers can’t have curriculum for this and have it as mandatory teaching for the children, that’s why it’s so funny they keep saying gay because no one’s telling them they can’t say any words they can talk about transgenderism they can talk about sexualities and genders all they want on their time but they can’t have a curriculum for it. Teachers also cannot tell a student do not tell your parents and they are also required to report any kind of health issues such as transgenderism to the parents.
The Crux of the bill is making sure the parents know what’s going on at all times and that if a teacher is going to have some kind of curriculum through the schools authority they are not allowed to give it without all parents signing waivers for it. So if one kids parents say no I don’t want my son partaking in that it will either have to find a way to make sure he’s not in the classroom or they can’t teach about it at all.
“Someone unknown to you” Oh, you mean an educator whom my child spends 8 hours a day with, 5 times a week, for three months shy of a year?
Why don’t we have age appropriate curriculum specifically for this topic? What about the children in that classroom who have gay parents? What about the children in that classroom who are transgender?
Your (and others) denial of the existence of gay people does not make them disappear.
Not having an actual curriculum is not denying anything. A curriculum only means subjects are taught to all students in a more or less formal way, with outlines, required readings, tests (I assume) etc. This does not mean the subjects can never be brought up or discussed. I oppose any formal curriculum because from what I know at this point, it could involve teaching things such as “gender is a spectrum” or “there are 71 genders. Choose one”. These are the types of thing I understand are being pushed. So it goes beyond simply discussing gay or transgender lifestyles as alternatives and supporting those that identify as such. it actually is more like an attempt to indoctrinate kids with an alternative science for……what?…..social engineering purposes?
you say. “Would you have a problem if the teacher taught your child contrary to what you believe?” No. My child should have exposure to more than one perspective than just my own. My child has a right to knowledge and information, and to come to their own conclusion about what they believe. My child is an independent full human, not an extension of myself forced to believe only what I, the parent, believe.
You say, “Would the contrary or harmful view be based on the heterosexual child’s needs or the needs of the non-hetero child?” To say that helping LGBTQ students is somehow harming heterosexual students makes absolutely no sense and isn’t true. Parents and educators should be responsible for helping all children of all sexualities, this isn’t an either or situation. It’s a “both/and.” Our society has historically only served the needs of heterosexuals and have purposely discriminated against LGBT. Acknowledging the reality that minority groups exist and deserve to be helped does not take away rights from the dominant group.
You say, “If Lisa wants to be called Johnny, and the parents approve of it, then the school should oblige.” This is an incredibly ignorant statement based in transphobia. I HIGHLY recommend, “DOCTOR,” that you read up on trans issues from the perspective of the trans community and actually talk to transgender people before you go around speaking like this.
you say: “What is more dangerous: a parent who is legally responsible for caring for the child teaching their child their family values, or a teacher who has no legal responsibility teaching a child an ideology that may cause the child more trauma?” All of our education system is rooted in an ideology. To act like anything we teach is school is unbiased to a particular history is ignorant and false. It might not be YOUR ideology, and that’s why you’re upset. You also use the term trauma too loosely here. Trauma is exposure to a terrible incident or event or repeated events that has adverse effects on a person’s mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Providing information, addressing reality, and sharing diverse ideas is not trauma.
You speak as though you should have full control over your child, their thoughts, and their decisions. You are denying a child’s right to knowledge, information, freedom, and independence. Parents should not act like they know what’s best for their child’s sexuality (which is different from sex, btw). A child’s sexuality is their own, and they have a right to explore it and come to their own conclusion. Exposing them to the realities of the world – that LGBTQ people exist – or desperately trying to shelter your child from the truth, does not change the fact that they will have a sexuality and that sexuality might be completely different than whatever idea you had for them in your head.
Any example you bring up about a child being traumatized over learning about gender and sexuality is cherry picked, and does not represent statistical majority. Far more LGBTQ children commit suicide. Children should be gently and age appropriately exposed to gender and sexuality. Learning about gender and sexuality should not be traumatizing. It is a part of everyday life. We are all socialized into it. If it is traumatizing, then adults are doing something terribly wrong.
Rather than feeding your child your own biased perspective and instilling a distrust in your child for other adults, teachers, social workers, etc, that they don’t know what’s best, only you do, that they can’t offer anything beneficial to your child, only you can, that other adult’s perspective is flawed and yours is infallible, is a massive problem. I suggest you look into yourself, listen to others, question your own standing, before you go spreading incomplete information and fear about issues you know nothing about.
All children should have exposure to many perspectives, but the word child is a vague description as your CHILD could be 5 or 16 so clearly when someone says my child it will have a different impact. I hope my child will have children and make me a grandfather, but common-sense dictates I do not want that to happen when I they are 14y old.
I don’t believe for one second you wish to have a Pedophile as a teacher for your child even if they keep their hands to them self but teaches about child/adult relations. I don’t want to have a heterosexual teaching my 5 – 8 year old about straight sexual relationships. The bill is focused on kindergarten through 3rd grade, a time that is incredibly important for intellectual growth and developing good educational habits.
The 80s was a fun time being told everyone is special and everyone could be anything, we see today that was a terrible message to give young people as they are emotionally stunted, and we have higher suicide rates in that age group then any recorded time before that.
Children need pure education not indoctrination of ANY kind being religion or social norms. No one should be telling my son about “Toxic Masculinity” or how a man should never cry or show emotion.
How did religion come into the subject? Sexuality is a natural expression- locked into our DNA over millions of years of evolution regardless what I believe or another’s freewill may believe. Every animal on this planet has this natural instinct called sexuality. Allows all species on this planet to procreate-an instinct of survival. In conclusion, here is food for thought. The first and last time someone other than my parents showed me something about sexuality- that person molested me. Once we are able to debate clearly with facts and unbiased. Than maybe we can evolve into something greater yet. Hope I helped. Good day!
It doesn’t ban heterosexual talk. That proves it’s not about parents teaching their kids about sex and related issues. It specifically says gays.
IF the bill just said “parents should teach their kids about sex. Including heterosexual sex.” then we’d be cool. But it doesn’t.
Read it again dumb shit, it specifically says sexual orientation…hetero or homo. I support the rights of LGBT, but I also support the rights of hetero folks, stop being a selfish ass hole who wants to indoctrinate children. Sex has no place in an elementary school classroom, whether it’s gay or straight you stupid fuck.
I added a new video. If any LGBTQ supporters would like to come on the show in Jacksonville to discuss this issue, please reach out to me via Facebook messenger or text me at the toll free number below.
Your piece is far from balanced. It’s a one sided, conservative, religious view and your headline is not a fact, it’s YOUR opinion. It’s also fear mongering. How many Lisa’s do you know that have “secretly” changed their name to Johnny? My guess would be ZERO. I grew up in catholic, conservative family. The only sexuality I knew was heterosexuality. The only thing I learned about homosexuality from my family was that it was a sin, wrong, disgusting and I would go to hell. The only thing that conversation did for me was made me hate myself and have suicidal thoughts. You’re delusional if you think parents are capable of having an open discussion about sexuality with their children. I wish we had these discussions when I was in school, but back in the eighties, we did not. Instead, I spent the first 25 years of my life thinking there was something seriously wrong with me. Sexuality is NOT a “hot topic.” Although the majority have tried (myself included), you can’t pray away the gay. Perhaps if people like yourself got educated on the topic of sexuality, you would understand that sexuality is NOT something that can be taught. It’s how God made us. That’s a FACT that you’re not willing to accept.
Stupid
The problem is to assume that teaching them these things is somehow damaging. I mean, the government thinks it is okay to teach the kids that they live in the best country in the world (propaganda). They think it’s okay to sell history without telling the whole story. They also think they have the right to Demand vaccines (and take that right away from their parents). We take things depending on how they are presented. Sexuality is not that big of a deal unless it’s presented that way. As an educator and human being, I am appalled that this is still going on in 2022. The government intrudes in everything but suddenly they care about the rights of parents . Brainwashed much?
The problem is exactly what you stated, sexuality shouldn’t be a big deal. But homophobic people make it such a big deal, for gay people it has been a big deal due to harassment, invalidation, and crimes committed against them. We talk about every oppressed group on school, why is it such a big deal that they talk about LGBTQ+ history in history classes and the crimes society has committed against them?
Egad, you are getting yourself all twisted into knots. So its 2022 and what the heck do you expect? We know going to the moon wasn’t going to solve human misery, or eliminate hunger, or propaganda or government intrusion into people lives. Don’t be appalled, be reasonable. Its not worth getting worked up over politics as usual. Politics as usual has never made sense, never will. Just because its 2022 doesn’t mean that all of a sudden its suppose to make sense.
This is so incredibly ignorant. The fact that you included a specific case that literally proves you’re ignorant is laughable, the child in question didn’t attempt to commit suicide because of their meetings with a counselor, they attempted suicide because they knew their parents would never accept them even outcast them due to their religious beliefs. In what world do you live in? Questioning sexuality is a normal part of life, that’s not been a cause of suicide, but questioning the backlash that you will receive from your peers and family is what leads to suicide. It’s funny that the parents in that story are angry about the bullying their child is facing for questioning their gender identity and sexuality, but they are passively doing the same thing to their child, forcing their religion onto them, and forcing heterosexuality onto their child as well. Let kids figure it out themselves like you’ve pointed out, maybe we should also ban movies, tv shows, books etc, with any heterosexual content or homosexual content as well, so that kids aren’t influenced or questioning sexuality by your logic.
Well first off, as the typical way of the “woke” generation, calling the bill by a skewed, incorrect title only benefits them and their ridiculous argument. It is called the “Parental Rights in Education” bill. Call it what it ACTUALLY is. Of course if they were talking about the bill using it’s real name, they wouldn’t garner nearly the attention they have, by naming it something that immediately gets the sympathy for their community, by people that have no idea what the bill actually says, but instead just jump on the “woke” band wagon.
People who oppose this legislation are a bit like the people in favor of critical race theory. They use the word “deny” a lot, as in, “Why would anyone want to deny teaching the truth about slavery? or “why would you want to deny gay and transgender lifestyles exist”?
Um, its really a lot more complicated than that. What we have more broadly is revisionist interpretations of science or US history, and attempts to substitute these versions of the “truth” for older versions that have served us for centuries. And more disturbingly, to what end are we seeking to do this? This is where it gets a bit troublesome for some.
I believe this is more a case of where certain people or lifestyles are actually under attack, and as part of that attack, we are going to rewrite the rules from scratch, then force them through the education pipeline directly into our kids brains. What is gender? What does America represent? What is racism? These questions are all concepts heavily debated in academia, and are being advanced by people with political motivations that go way beyond the usual quest for social justice.
In the case of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, the new scientific concepts surrounding gender and sexual orientation I understand many would like to introduce to children, causing the bill to be advanced. But this would target heteronormative ideology and treat heterosexual behavior like its just another flavor of ice cream. No way – this would be like suggesting wheat and figs grown by farmers are interchangeable as crops, when we know one is far more nutritious than the other. We either reproduce, or we die. Same for eating healthy. Take your pick.
So you know, why would anyone want to do something like this? Anybody that has everyone’s collective interests at heart would consider this insane. But if you DON”T have everyone’s collective interests at heart, i.e. your motives are more sinister, then it makes perfect sense.
So asking for acceptance and tolerance is one thing. But if you feel a need to attack or minimize, as a formal policy, an age old lifestyle in order to achieve this – forget it. This is what I consider any attempt to redefine gender with the intent being to marginalize or outright eliminate the two sex model. Read this quote, then read it again (taken from an academic article):
“In the current article, we discuss the UNRELENTING AND INSIDIOUS nature of heteronormative ideology”
OMG, really? So are people that think this way behind the attacks on the “Don’t Say Gay” bill?
Heteronormative ideology only states that the two sex model is to be considered the norm, as well as heterosexuality. Yeah, so lets stick with that, OK guys? I mean, we can find other ways to reduce discrimination, and education will help so long as we continue to stress the importance of keeping our species alive.