Parental rights bill is “discrimination”?

The White House is not too happy with a new Florida Law that recently took effect. It bans schools from teaching about “gender identify” and “sexual orientation” to kindergarten through third grade students. “Discrimination” is one of the labels being thrown at this law. This law provides parents with some tools needed to help monitor and influence what their children are being taught.

From Fox News:

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law in March that would ban teachers from giving classroom instruction on “sexual orientation” or “gender identity” in kindergarten through third grade.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre slammed the measure as it went into effect Friday saying some of Florida’s “most vulnerable students and families are more fearful and less free.”

“As the state’s shameful ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law takes effect, state officials who claim to champion liberty are limiting the freedom of their fellow Americans simply to be themselves,” she said. “Already, there have been reports that ‘Safe Space’ stickers are being taken down from classrooms. Teachers are being instructed not to wear rainbow clothing. LGBTQI+ teachers are being told to take down family photos of their husbands and wives–cherished family photos like the ones on my own desk.”

Jean-Pierre said this is “not an issue of ‘parents’ rights.'”

“This is discrimination, plain and simple,” she said. “It’s part of a disturbing and dangerous nationwide trend of right-wing politicians cynically targeting LGBTQI+ students, educators, and individuals to score political points.”

Jean-Pierre also said the measure “encourages bullying and threatens students’ mental health, physical safety, and well-being.”

“It censors dedicated teachers and educators who want to do the right thing and support their students,” she said. “And it must stop.”

Jean-Pierre said President Joe Biden has “been very clear that every student deserves to feel safe and welcome in the classroom.”

She announced that the Department of Education plans to monitor the law, and said that “any student or parent who believes they are experiencing discrimination is encouraged to file a complaint with the Department’s Office for Civil Rights.”

“Our Administration will continue to fight for dignity and opportunity for every student and family–in Florida and around the country,” she said.

The initial bill was dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by Democrats who falsely claim it bans any discussion pertaining to being gay in the state’s schools.

The law does prohibit classroom instruction on “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” with children in third grade or younger, “or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”

The law does not ban the word “gay” in school settings, and it does not ban casual discussions of topics relating to sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom, and does not require schools to notify parents if their child comes out as gay or transgender.

Fox News has the article here.

Category: Democrats, Politics, Society