Louisiana Bill Would Ban Discussions on Sexuality. Gender Identity in the Classroom
Critics have already labeled it a “Don’t Say Gay bill”
A Louisiana bill that is set to be debated in the state House would ban teachers and school faculty from discussing sexual identity and gender in public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade.
HB 466, introduced by Louisiana state Rep. Dodie Horton (R), would also ban teachers from discussing their own sexual orientation and gender as well as from using pronouns for students that did not align with their sex, unless express parental permission is given, The Daily Signal reported.
The bill passed the House Education Committee on Wednesday and while Republican lawmakers anticipate a veto from Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards, Horton is confident the Republican supermajority in the legislature would rise to the occasion.
“I pray that people will be bold enough and courageous enough to override a veto,” she told the Signal this week.
The bill would go further than similar legislation signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis last year which prohibited sexuality education through 3rd grade.
It has already been attacked by critics as a “Don’t Say Gay bill,” a term used by critics of Florida’s bill.
“This is a Don’t Say Gay bill that would prohibit educators from discussing sexual orientation in the classroom,” Planned Parenthood of the Gulf Coast wrote on Twitter after HB 466 passed the education committee this week.