MYTH: Florida pushed a bill that discriminates against homosexual students. The bill censors teachers from using the word “gay”. It also prevents students, of all grade levels, from seeking medical advice or counseling services, about gender identity or sexual orientation.

REALITY: This is false. The Florida legislation in question is CS/CS/HB 1557, or the Parental Rights in Education Act. The bill does not prevent teachers from using the word ‘gay’.

The bill states, “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate.”

For context, American kindergarten children and third graders are generally between the ages of 5 and 9— So, they are little children.

According to numerous studies, sexual attraction isn’t even present until the age of 10. “Accumulating studies from the United States over the past decade suggest that the development of sexual attraction may commence in middle childhood and achieve individual subjective recognition sometime around the age of 10.”

In addition, according to a national survey, conducted by the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), about 3 out of 4 (74%) of self-identified gay and bisexual college students didn’t become aware of their sexual preference until high school or college.

So, if the bill prevents classroom instruction on sexual orientation, for children, before they even display sexual attraction, then what is the problem? There isn’t one. It’s just manufactured outrage by the left.

According to a Daily Wire poll, conducted by the market research technology platform Lucid, when 1,000 people were shown the actual text from the legislation, more than 6 in 10 Americans (64%) supported the bill. The survey’s 1,000-person sample was 37% Democrat, 32% Republican, and 31% Independent.

Also, the Florida bill states that schools would be required to notify parents when children receive mental health services unless educators believe there is a risk of physical or mental abuse.

Similar to the Daily Wire poll, Rasmussen conducted a poll, which had a very similar outcome. Sixty-eight percent (68%) believe schools and teachers should not be allowed to counsel students on their sexual and gender identities without parental knowledge or consent.

So, the only thing the bill does is prevent teachers from adding inappropriate and politically charged material to their curriculum. Also, the bill prevents little children, that are too young to display sexual attraction, from being exposed to inappropriate material. In addition, it makes sure the parents are aware of any mental health services their child might be receiving. In no way does the bill prevent children from seeking counseling services, target homosexuals, or prevent the usage of the word “gay”.

SOURCES

Editorial Board. (2022, March 11). Opinion | does the ‘don’t say gay’ bill say that? Wall Street Journal . Retrieved August 12, 2022, from https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/does-the-dont-say-gay-bill-say-that-11647041916

Most Americans side with J.K. Rowling: Only two genders. Rasmussen Reports. (2021, December 27). Retrieved August 12, 2022, from https://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/public_surveys/most_americans_side_with_j_k_rowling_only_two_genders

Meads, T. (2022, March 14). Exclusive poll: Over 60% of Americans back Florida’s limits on K-3 lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Daily Wire. Retrieved August 12, 2022, from https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-poll-over-60-of-americans-back-floridas-limits-on-k-3-lessons-on-sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity

Is There an Age by Which People Realize Their Sexual Orientation? Procon. (2011, July 19). Retrieved August 12, 2022, from https://borngay.procon.org/questions/is-there-an-age-by-which-people-realize-their-sexual-orientation/