Florida’s Tweaked ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Is Still a Nightmare

A Republican legislator in Florida pushing a bill to allow parents to sue schools that “encourage” discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity has withdrawn an even more egregious amendment that would have forced teachers to out students to their parents within six weeks of finding out the child is queer.

State Rep. Joe Harding proposed an amendment to the “Parental Rights in Education” bill on Friday, which would have struck language permitting schools to withhold a student’s sexual orientation or gender identity from parents “if a reasonably prudent person would believe that disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect.”

The amendment to what’s become known as the “Don’t say gay” bill would have added language to force school principals to “develop a plan” in order “to disclose” the student’s sexual orientation or gender identity “within 6 weeks after the decision to withhold such information from the parent.” 

But on Tuesday, just before the Florida House was set to debate the full bill, Harding withdrew the amendment, according to legislative records. 

Harding’s office did not immediately respond to questions about why he withdrew the amendment. State Rep. Anna Eskamani, an Orlando Democrat, told VICE News that the rest of the bill—which remains intact—shows that Harding and supporters of the bill “are willing to take a disgusting unfettered attack on LGBTQ+ youth.” 

The bill as it exists now stipulates that schools “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.” Harding told CNN last month that the bill would apply to kindergarten through third-grade students.

The bill is just one in a trend of state-level legislation targeting LGBTQ youth, including laws passed in 10 different states banning trans girls from participating in girls’ sports. (Three of those bills also ban trans boys from playing boys’ sports, according to Sports Illustrated.) Earlier this month, the White House slammed Harding’s proposal. 

“I want every member of the LGBTQI+ community—especially the kids who will be impacted by this hateful bill—to know that you are loved and accepted just as you are,” President Joe Biden said in a tweet. “I have your back, and my Administration will continue to fight for the protections and safety you deserve.”

Harding said in a video at the time—before he introduced an amendment that would have required schools to out students—that he wanted “all kids to feel safe at school, but that also has nothing to do with this bill,” and accused the Biden administration of “distorting the facts” and “spreading fear.” 

The Florida House is expected to vote on the bill Tuesday. Eskamani suggested in a tweet that by pulling the amendment, Florida Republicans are either “trying to look moderate or something worse is coming.”

“I can only assume that in response to public pressure this gross amendment was withdrawn but there are many steps left in the legislative process—meaning this amendment could come back,” Eskamani told VICE News. “And the bill, even without it, is still dangerous.”

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