Concern is growing in the educational community of this southern United States state, while a first district has indicated it will ban the presence of rainbows or photographs of same-sex spouses in its schools.
In Florida, a state in the southern United States, concern is beginning to spread to the education community as a controversial law, renamed “Don’t Say Gay” by opponents, comes into effect and aims to ban teachers from having problems addressing sexual orientation and gender in the classroom.
Ban on rainbows
Alarm bells are ringing, especially in Orange County, whose capital is Orlando. As local ABC affiliate WFTV9 reports, local education officials have raised serious concerns after local public school leaders disclosed how the law would actually work in the county.
At a seminar last week, local school attorneys outlined what behavior would and would not be tolerated if the Don’t Say Gay law went into effect. According to concerned teachers who reported what was said during that meeting, the introduction of the law would make it impossible for them to wear items or clothing depicting a rainbow. Similarly, some teachers said they were encouraged not to show their partner’s photo on their desk if it was a same-sex person.
This law would also require teachers to speak to a student’s parents if they reveal their homosexuality in class. WFTV9 points out that these various measures are far from the original scope of the law, HB 1557 of its official name, which focuses primarily on school programs.
“It would be an alarming signal if the district decided to interpret this law in the strictest terms. We want to protect student privacy. We want to make sure they’re in safe classrooms,” said Clinton McCracken, president of the Orange County Teachers’ Association.
An Orange County official confirmed the existence of this seminar, but asserted that the various actions outlined were only hypothetical.
Similar laws in other states
The law is scheduled to go into effect on Friday, July 1. But many Florida residents are mobilizing against the text, which they see as a step backwards. Two associations have filed suit. But Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has asked a federal judge to dismiss the appeal, CBS reports.
Ashley Moody said it was Florida’s prerogative to establish educational programs and dismissed the “don’t say gay” nickname. “Far from banning discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity, this law allows for appropriate age-appropriate education on these issues,” she added. The law was signed into law by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on March 29.
Far from affecting just Florida, many other American states have passed similar laws. Last April, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a similar law into law, banning teachers from discussing LGBTQ+ history or people.