“Don’t say gay” law: “culture war” over Florida’s classrooms

In Florida, teachers are not allowed to discuss sexual orientation in elementary schools because of the controversial “don’t say gay” law. Critics call it shameful and want to sue.

Florida’s new law for the “Rights of Parents in School Education” – as it is officially titled – has found support. The moderators of the television channel “Fox News” are enthusiastic. Preschool, first and second grade teachers should not discuss sexual orientation and gender identity with children:

Moderator Ainsley Earhardt says: “Parents have the right to teach at home whatever they want, whether they are for it or against it. And in the classroom, please only read, write, do arithmetic.”

At Earhardt, equality, respect, and empathy become the choice of each individual. And if a teacher does answer a question about sexual diversity or doesn’t express themselves in an age-appropriate way, parents can sue the school from July.

“Inappropriate for first and second graders”

The law avoids terms such as gay, bi or trans. But the “genderbread person” is also forbidden in Florida – the diagram of a gingerbread figure that the artist and activist Sam Killerman developed as teaching material. With their help, teachers should also be able to explain abstract differences between gender, identity and orientation for children.

Florida Gov. Ron Desantis presented a picture of the figure to the press as if he had snatched it from a librarian. “It’s trying to cast doubt on children about their gender identity,” says Desantis. “It’s trying to say they can be whoever they want to be. That’s inappropriate for preschoolers, first and second graders. Parents no longer want that in their schools.”

Squeeze into gender roles

Defenders of the law speak of “grooming”. What is meant is the accusation that teachers would try to gain the children’s trust in order to then force them into other gender roles. Governor Desantis said so.

US actor Issac Oliver, who grew up in Florida, considers the procedure disgusting and shameful. “It’s the continuation of the culture wars from my youth. Laws are used as a weapon to terrorize teachers. And then there’s this cowardice to hide behind the welfare of children.”

Oliver is currently starring in the Disney series Moon Knight. The Disney group, like many other companies in Florida, originally wanted to stay out of the controversy. It turned out differently: employees of the media group stopped work to protest: Against what the critics call the “don’t say gay bill” – that is, the “don’t say gay law”.

Disney, with its billion-dollar theme parks in Orlando, gave in. The group has now stated that the aim is for this law to be repealed and judicially struck down.

election in the United States

Governor Desantis feels vindicated by this. He’s trying to score extra points with his followers: “I don’t care what the commercial media says, what Hollywood says or what big companies say. I won’t give in.” This year there will be elections in the USA. In Florida it is even about the post of governor. It’s a culture war on the backs of children trying to find their place.

Critics fear that the explicit taboo in lessons in the lower classes will lead to more exclusion in later years. Groups like Equality Florida, which advocate for respect and equal rights, have announced that they will sue.