Florida Rep. Anna V. Eskamani during a 2022 abortion rights rally in Orlando. (Photo by Jheff Mathis)
ORLANDO | The Parental Rights in Education law, more commonly known as “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” law, has been expanded upon in three bills that passed March 31.
The House of Representatives voted 77-35 in favor of House Bill 1069, which expands the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” law’s censorship through 8th grade. HB 1069 also bans parents from requiring schools to use their child’s chosen pronouns and escalates book bans within Florida schools. The Florida Department of Education is now working to further expand HB 1069 to high school students.
“I do think something that folks need to do is be more proactive in holding the Board of Education accountable because it is the state Board of Education that is approving the rulemaking,” Florida House Rep. Anna V. Eskamani says. “There’s been a lot of attention towards the governor and a lot of attention towards the legislature, but not a lot of attention towards the Department of Education. It was the state Board of Education that not only is in the process right now of expanding this to encompass 12th grade, so all grade levels, but they also were the ones who expanded the library book restrictions to include classroom libraries.”
House Bill 1223, “Public PreK-12 Educational Institution and Instruction Requirements,” is also in the process of being passed. It was sent to the Education & Employment Committee March 16 and is still awaiting determination. If passed, this bill would further restrict discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity for students in pre-kindergarten through 8th grade.
Eskamani says this is very dangerous for students. Florida already allows students to opt out of sexual health lessons and limiting the sexual health taught in schools even further puts students at further risk.
“It also erodes any type of comprehensive sexual health education,” Eskamani says regarding HB 1223. “It emphasizes the dominance of hetero monogamous relationships and will lead to increases in STI rates, HIV and unplanned pregnancies because it just completely eliminates what would be comprehensive age-appropriate sexual education.”
As bills like this continue to pass in Florida, it is becoming increasingly more important to provide a safe space for young LGBTQ+ students who may no longer have one. Eskamani says teachers have had to remove “safe space” stickers from their classrooms and teachers who are in same-sex relationships no longer feel safe displaying photos with their partner because it may cross a line set in place by these new bills.
“What’s most devastating is just the chilling effect it’s had on LGBTQ+ students and their safety because not every kid comes from a home that is supportive,” Eskamani says. “Sometimes, the school is like the only safe place they have and these policies have had a chilling effect in creating an environment where kids don’t feel comfortable being kids. They don’t feel comfortable in themselves and that can be really devastating, especially when it comes to the mental health of that kid not being able to truly express themselves.”
