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| 'Don't Say Gay': White House denounces new Florida bill | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The White House has said a new bill in Florida that would ban discussion of sexual orientation in primary schools is "designed to attack" LGBT students. | The White House has said a new bill in Florida that would ban discussion of sexual orientation in primary schools is "designed to attack" LGBT students. |
| Governor Ron DeSantis has signalled his backing for the measure and it appears to have enough support to pass through the state's Republican-led legislature. | Governor Ron DeSantis has signalled his backing for the measure and it appears to have enough support to pass through the state's Republican-led legislature. |
| Activists have dubbed it the "Don't Say Gay" bill and warn it will stigmatise LGBT people and issues. | Activists have dubbed it the "Don't Say Gay" bill and warn it will stigmatise LGBT people and issues. |
| But its proponents say the legislation is about protecting parental rights. | But its proponents say the legislation is about protecting parental rights. |
| The proposal was introduced in the state House of Representatives last month. An identical version advanced in the state Senate on Tuesday. | The proposal was introduced in the state House of Representatives last month. An identical version advanced in the state Senate on Tuesday. |
| At a news conference, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said: "Every parent hopes that our leaders will ensure their children's safety, protection, and freedom." | |
| "Today, conservative politicians in Florida rejected those basic values by advancing legislation that is designed to target and attack the kids who need support the most." | "Today, conservative politicians in Florida rejected those basic values by advancing legislation that is designed to target and attack the kids who need support the most." |
| The LGBT history you probably didn't learn in school | The LGBT history you probably didn't learn in school |
| Drag Race: 'LGBT voices are needed more than ever' | Drag Race: 'LGBT voices are needed more than ever' |
| A riot that changed millions of lives | A riot that changed millions of lives |
| State laws that ban or constrain the discussion of LGBT life in classrooms - sometimes referred to as "no promo homo" laws - are not uncommon. | State laws that ban or constrain the discussion of LGBT life in classrooms - sometimes referred to as "no promo homo" laws - are not uncommon. |
| Several were introduced in the 1970s and 1980s, closely correlated with anti-gay rights activism at the time, but many have long been repealed. | |
| Currently, four US states - Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas - have laws on the books that expressly prohibit or limit sex education to heterosexual activity. | Currently, four US states - Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Texas - have laws on the books that expressly prohibit or limit sex education to heterosexual activity. |
| Last year, Tennessee and Montana passed laws that allow parents to opt their children out of discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity. | Last year, Tennessee and Montana passed laws that allow parents to opt their children out of discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity. |
| The Florida bill goes a step further, allowing parents to directly sue schools districts and seek damages if they believe an educator has broken the law. | The Florida bill goes a step further, allowing parents to directly sue schools districts and seek damages if they believe an educator has broken the law. |
| Although the ban will in theory apply largely to sex education courses at the primary grade levels, it also calls on school districts to avoid LGBT topics when "not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students". | Although the ban will in theory apply largely to sex education courses at the primary grade levels, it also calls on school districts to avoid LGBT topics when "not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students". |
| Echoing the text of the bill, Governor DeSantis said schools should avoid "entirely inappropriate" topics and instead be teaching science, history, civics and other lessons. | Echoing the text of the bill, Governor DeSantis said schools should avoid "entirely inappropriate" topics and instead be teaching science, history, civics and other lessons. |
| "The larger issue with all of this is parents must have a seat at the table when it comes to what's going on in their schools," he told reporters on Monday. | "The larger issue with all of this is parents must have a seat at the table when it comes to what's going on in their schools," he told reporters on Monday. |
| But LGBT advocates have warned the legislation will harm the mental health of LGBT youth and undermine their existing protections under the law while moving Floridians away from a more inclusive school environment. | But LGBT advocates have warned the legislation will harm the mental health of LGBT youth and undermine their existing protections under the law while moving Floridians away from a more inclusive school environment. |
| This video can not be played | This video can not be played |
| To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. | To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. |
| Rory Wade said he found "homophobia was very normalised in daily conversation" during his school days | Rory Wade said he found "homophobia was very normalised in daily conversation" during his school days |