Will DeSantis Extend 'Don't Say Gay' Through 6th Grade?
Less than a year after signing Florida's "Don't Say Gay" measure into law, Gov. Ron DeSantis says he's "open" to extending the law's ban on classroom discussion of LGBTQ+ people through sixth grade.
The law criminalizes acknowledgement of sexual minorities in instructional settings through third grade, and incentivizes parents to sue schools if they think the law isn't being followed. UK newspaper the Daily Mail reports that, according to someone from the office of the state's senate president, Kathleen Passidomo, "the state's legislature is considering expanding the provisions of the law to include fourth, fifth and sixth graders, as well."
"Middle school, which can sometimes include sixth grade in certain public school districts, is usually around the age where students begin learning sexual education and health as part of their official curriculum," the Mail noted.
Passidomo told the press last month that — for the moment, at least — "she wouldn't want to expand to high school because kids that age are 'more mature,' " the Mail detailed.
DeSantis is ready to sign an expansion of the controversial law, according to his press secretary, Brian Griffin, who told the news outlet that "The governor would certainly consider the merits of such a bill in final form if it comes to his desk as a product of the forthcoming legislation session."
Griffin "specifically pointed to DeSantis frequently saying: 'The purpose of our education system is to educate kids, not indoctrinate kids'," the Mail added.
Even though the law in its current form forbids in-class discussion of LGBTQ+ issues through third grade, its provisions are not strictly limited to those grades. The law's language also criminalizes recognition of LGBTQ+ people and issues relating to them in any school setting where such a discussion might not be "developmentally appropriate," a provision that critics contend is so broad and vague as to effectively muzzle and marginalize LGBTQ+ students and school staff — or those with LGBTQ+ family members — no matter what grade they are in.
The law does not, however address the "indoctrination" that many LGBTQ+ kids — or those perceived to be gay — may be subjected to on the playground or school hallways in the form of homophobic bullying. According to GLSEN, a group dedicated to ending harassment of LGBTQ+ youth in schools, "Nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT students experience harassment in American schools each year." Moreover, "60% of LGBT youth feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation," and "Nearly 1 out of 3 LGBT youth missed school in the past month because of safety concerns."
The Mail's report did not indicate that an expansion of the law would address hostile situations faced by LGTBQ+ students as a result of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
DeSantis signed "Don't Say Gay" into law on Mach 28, 2022.