Florida Republicans Are About To Pass A Bill Mandating The Outing Of LGBT Students

[appalachiablue]

- Daily Kos, Feb. 21, 2022.

In Florida, state legislators are proposing a bill, supported by Governor DeSantis, that would require teachers to inform parents if they know or suspect their children are LGBT. The latest amendment removes any protections for children, while the original draft had exemptions for cases where the outing could lead to abuse, neglect or abandonment. Even the original draft was draconic, but this is just evil.

I was fortunate enough that I was able to come out of the closet to my friends and family when I was 15, on my own terms. My classmates accepted me, so did my family. But I grew up in a progressive household and went to a very liberal minded and "elite" high school. I know others don't have that luxury. My own boyfriend still hasn't told his parents or most of his friends. He's afraid of what their response would be.

This bill in front of the Florida legislature is an abomination and should be fought tooth and nail. If it passes and is signed into law, likely thousands of innocent kids will suffer. Mandating the outing of children is so beyond the pale that I can't label it as anything but evil. There is no benefit to this, only harm. I hope the Florida legislature rejects this bill, though I am not hopeful. But at the very least attention should be drawn to it, and opposition mustered. ~
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/2/21/2081594/-Florida-Republicans-are-about-to-pass-a-bill-mandating-the-outing-of-LGBT-students
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- Also: The Hill, Amendment to 'Don't Say Gay' bill in Fla requires schools to out students to their parents within 6 weeks,
A new amendment to Florida’s “Don't Say Gay” bill would require schools to inform parents of their children’s sexual orientation within six weeks of learning the student isn't straight, NBC affiliate WFLA reported on Monday. The amendment was filed Friday by the bill’s co-sponsor, state Rep. Joe Harding (R).

The bill, which has gained national attention and pushback, bars educators in Florida from talking about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary schools. Parents would be able to take legal action against school districts they believe have violated the measure. The original version of the legislation required schools to inform families of their child’s LGBTQ+ status but gave an option for exemption for the outing in cases where educators feared it could lead to abuse, neglect or abandonment. The amendment offers no such exception...
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/595218-amendment-to-dont-say-gay-bill-in-florida-requires-schools-to-out
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- Select Comments, Daily Kos,

- We can petition by refusing to be a tourist or support anything from Florida..and letting Disney know why we won’t visit the House of Mouse anytime soon. Same with Universal. And Carnival Cruises.
- Laws like this depend on the worst people identifying any child they don’t feel is conformist enough to Christian ideals when it comes to sex & gender. Or maybe just a kid that annoys them.
- And classmates can “swat” others by telling teachers that they think the student is gay. I can just see some incel deciding that if a girl won’t go out with him, she must be a lesbian… so report her now!!
- I guess Pink Triangles are next.

[dchill]

1. Because they are just so fucking useful.

[ShazzieB]

2. 🥺😱🤯

Mandating the outing of children is so beyond the pale that I can't label it as anything but evil.

Evil is definitely the word for this. Absolutely, without question.

I wish to hell the Repugs in Florida would stop doing things that make me hate the state and everything about it. Texas, too, for that matter; but at least there's an outside hope of that state having a governor that's a decent human after the election. (Go Beto!) Florida is starting to seem like a lost cause.

I am SO sick of mean people making mean laws that harm people and serve no useful purpose whatsoever!

[I_UndergroundPanther]

10. Mean people suck.

I have a sticker that says this on my art portfolio.
Got it around the 90's

I want a patch or shirt that says it too. Especially now.

[monkeyman1]

3. law suits up the wazoo coming up !!

[Rebl2]

5. I would

hope so. Talk about your bullies.

[Ford_Prefect]

4. Daily Kos comment has it wrong. Hate is not a Christian Ideal.

- Laws like this depend on the worst people identifying any child they don’t feel is conformist enough to Christian ideals when it comes to sex & gender.

This violates the 1st Amendment in a fundamental way. You have the right to remain silent if you so choose. Being gay is not yet specifically illegal, although DeSantis and his kind really do want it to be. Children (those under 18) do have civil rights under the Constitution, as precedent has shown. They are not well protected nor completely independent of parental authority but they have got rights of free expression.

[world wide wally]

6. Is this really what the people of Florida want?

[childfreebychoice]

7. I am so happy that my parents left the south before they started having

kids. Bad enuf growing up as black atheists, in '50's/60's, but when two of my brothers came out as gay, with full support of my parents, my parents lost the few family and friends they had left. I have had teen, gay patients thrown onto the streets, had families stopped paying their kid's tuition, had families try to beat the gay out of their kids, had "pastors" try to pray away the gay, and even more egregious, had gay patients commit suicide.
As long as ppl cont to flock to Florida, for vacay/to live, rethugs will cont to turn fl into a place where only trumpettes r welcomed

[Grins]

8. Q: What purpose does this bill serve?

What hell in Florida does this pretend to address?
What “good” can come of it?
And Cui bono?

[IngridsLittleAngel]

9. The lone purpose of this disgusting bill

Cruelty.

Target and demonize the LGBTQ youth, so that monsters like DeathSentence and Paxton and Shelley Luther (https://www.democraticunderground.com/100216336407) can bully and harm them. Once they're outed, they're easier to target... And bully... And do... What? Beat them up? Kill them?

No one hates Americans as much as Republiqans do. And they can't go 24 hours without hiding it. This is so-called "Republiqan leadership" in 2022... Harm people. Innocent people. Especially LGBTQ's. Especially T's.

"WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN?!", said by people who openly aim to harm children.

The most hypocritical part of this? This is being done by people whining about their freedoms and their privacy, while going out of their way to take it away from others - "the more vulnerable, the better!" Rights for me, not for thee. Monsters.

I hate Florida Nazis. I hate Republiqan Nazis.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

11. I will not buy anything thats from floriduh.

I'll get oranges from south america or wherever else their grown.

Fuck floriduh,dumbfuckistan, united in sadism.

[IngridsLittleAngel]

14. Same...

It's the mid 70's all over again here... This time, though, it isn't just Anita Bryant's big mouth... Now it's the entire government of the state.

Floristan will not receive a cent of my money anymore.

[ShazzieB]

15. It's too bad we can't do this to DeSantis & Co.

[vercetti2021]

12. Course it is

I wish I can tell these kids. You're not gonna go out this way. You're gonna fight and spite these motherfucking nazis.

[IngridsLittleAngel]

13. I hope they do

I imagine more and more LGBTQ's are seeing the writing on the wall and realizing they're gonna have to fight back and push back.. Because monsters like DeathSentence won't stop. This is what their party is. It's not the party of "personal liberty" or "less government" or "rugged individualism" or "economic responsibility." It's the party of hate, and, every day they wake up and scheme up some new way to hurt people.

For anyone reading who thinks "Well, I'm not LGBTQ"... Don't worry. You're on the list. I don't know where. But you're on the list. Person of color? Immigrant? Liberal? Atheist? Not wealthy enough? Hell, I even imagine the "Never Trumpers" are on the list too.

But this is what this party is. This isn't just some side project. This isn't them addressing an "urgent issue." This is what they live for... Hate.

[vercetti2021]

17. I woke up many years ago

Why I have this persona of being a hard ass and not letting others walk all over me. These kids hopefully can do the same. Be a badass queen, queer, them, they. I don't care. Just stick it to these fascists

[IngridsLittleAngel]

21. I hope they can too, though, I wish it wasn't necessary...

It's really kinda sad that here in 2022, we're having to fight these fights... again. History repeating itself, and in some cases, people trying to relive it but make it worse this time around.

I think back to a Faux-addicted ex-friend of mine... A decade or so ago, he either tried to dismiss or justify some of this crap with "Freedom isn't free." Trust me, the irony was not lost on me. White cishet male, conservative, upper-middle class, Christian.. In other word, the one class of Americans for whom freedom is free, and has been for over 200 years. Born on third base, thinks he hit a triple...

I am hoping these kids can stand up and push back and be tough too. I wish they didn't need to. I wish they enjoyed the same freedoms and privileges of others. But they don't, and we can thank demons like DeathSentence for that sad fact.

[vercetti2021]

23. I want them to fear our resilience

Honestly I'm sure I'd scare most men given I'm a tall woman. Like you dont wanna cross me in anyway. I want them to be that way. No more being scared. Start instilling fear into these homophobic assholes

[IngridsLittleAngel]

24. It may be the only option left...

I know I have wanted these bigoted snowflakes to grow up and grow a brain for 30 years now... I'm beginning to think there is a better chance of the Sun orbiting around Pluto than that happening.

[vercetti2021]

25. Yep

But time to rise up and make them fear the holy queer

[IngridsLittleAngel]

26. It's to that point, yes...

We either rise up or wind up six feet under. Sad, but true...

[ShazzieB]

16. Good news!!!

Amendment that could out LGBTQ students withdrawn from Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/state/amendment-that-could-out-lgbtq-students-withdrawn-from-floridas-dont-say-gay-bill

[appalachiablue]

18. TY!! I'll post the article in this section now- separate. :)

[appalachiablue]

19. Raw Story article posted here already in LBN :)

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142874977

[OldBaldy1701E]

20. Yes, but now that the rethugs have wanted it...

There will be plenty of that going on regardless of whether or not the amendment was removed. I would not wish what I went through as a gay male on anyone, and yet these kids growing up in 2022 are going to have to go through it just the same. It is beyond disgusting.

[IngridsLittleAngel]

22. One small step..

Now the rest of this vile bill needs to go... And DeathSentence can go down the drain with it, I hope.

But, I'm glad at least the outing portion is gone.

I still hate Florida Nazis.