BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The controversial “Don’t Say Gay” measure, which would prohibit instructors from discussing gender identity and sexual orientation, received final approval from the Louisiana Senate that was responsible for the bill’s passage. In addition, educators would be prohibited from discussing their own identities without permission.
To put it simply, House Bill 122, which was introduced by state Representative Dodie Horton, a Republican from Haughton, would prohibit conversations on sexual orientation and gender identity in the classroom as well as during extracurricular activities. To shield children from subjects that their families might find objectionable, she stated that the measure is a defense of children.
According to what Horton remarked during a debate in April, “We are the last line of protection for our children.” According to the statement, “This is meant to protect them from conversations that their parents are required to approve, conversations that have no part of the curriculum, and conversations that have no part of the subject that is being taught.”
Individuals who advocate for LGBTQ rights stated in their testimony that the measure is a direct attack on them since it stifles queries and conversations that are related to their community. The Gender and Sexualities Alliances (GSA) organizations, which many people believe to be secure environments in which young people can learn about their identities, would likewise be prohibited by this legislation.
The potential consequences for breaking this statute would be decided by the school boards in each public school. Educators would be concerned about the bill’s potential to obscure the definition of gender identity and sexual orientation, which would result in an even greater lack of teachers in the state, according to some senators who came out against the bill.
In a vote that took place on Thursday, May 23, the Senate voted 28-7 to approve the law. The House of Representatives approved it with a vote of 69 to 28 in April. After that, it is delivered to the desk of Governor Jeff Landry, and it is anticipated that he will add his signature to it.