Posted on Mar 11, 2022
Florida's first openly gay state senator on 'Don't Say Gay' passing: 'the air was taken out of...
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In impassioned and tearful testimony this week, Florida state Sen. Shevrin Jones pleaded with his colleagues to vote against the state legislature’s controversial Parental Rights in Education bill, known to its critics as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Like other LGBTQ+ advocates, Jones, who is the state Senate’s first openly gay member, argued that the bill, which prohibits classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity that is not “age appropriate or developmentally appropriate” for children, would likely force LGBTQ+ students further into the closet and stigmatize the experiences of people who are not heterosexual or cisgender.
“I don’t think y’all understand how much courage it takes for these children to show up everyday,” he said, referring to the swaths of school-aged children who had gathered at the state capitol that day to protest the bill. Thousands more were staging similar demonstrations at schools across the state.
The bill passed Tuesday by a 22-17 vote after hours of grueling debate. Now, it heads to the desk of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, where it is expected to be signed into law.
Like other LGBTQ+ advocates, Jones, who is the state Senate’s first openly gay member, argued that the bill, which prohibits classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity that is not “age appropriate or developmentally appropriate” for children, would likely force LGBTQ+ students further into the closet and stigmatize the experiences of people who are not heterosexual or cisgender.
“I don’t think y’all understand how much courage it takes for these children to show up everyday,” he said, referring to the swaths of school-aged children who had gathered at the state capitol that day to protest the bill. Thousands more were staging similar demonstrations at schools across the state.
The bill passed Tuesday by a 22-17 vote after hours of grueling debate. Now, it heads to the desk of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, where it is expected to be signed into law.
Florida's first openly gay state senator on 'Don't Say Gay' passing: 'the air was taken out of...
Posted from thehill.comPosted in these groups: 
State of Florida
LGBTQ+
State of Florida LGBTQ+
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Just another example of the Florida Legislature making the GOP agenda into laws even if Floriday voters neither want or need them.
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PO1 John Johnson
Hey Jack; show us in the Bill where it's says: "Don't Say Gay". Or, you can tell everyone what the correct name of the Bill is, and state it's content exactly. Would that ruin the narrative?
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What a stupid article. I think it is inappropriate to teach homosexuality to kids from K to 3 rd grade. Sex education at this level is very superficial. It is amazing you even need a law like this.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
NO ONE is "teaching homosexuality" in schools. You potatoes.
When did you two decide you were heterosexual?
When did you two decide you were heterosexual?
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LTC David Brown
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff - then what is problem? What is wrong with restricting teaching homosexuality and gender alternatives in K through 3rd grade? That is all the law does. Is it really necessary to insult people?
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SFC Bernard Walko
Posted 4 h ago
I don’t see what is controversial about it. Basically all this law does is prevent teachers and schools in general from teaching about sex snd Biology in inappropriate ways to small children3rd grade and below. Myself, I believe this is a parents responsibility to teach their children as they will. If we tried teaching these same youngsters about God, the roof would come off. MHO
--- Of course you don't see what's controversial about this. No that law does not "just" prevent teachers and schools from teaching about sex and biology in inappropriate ways to children. That's not at all what it's about. It's pretty obvious you haven't even read the bill at all.
First off, what schools are actually teaching kids "inappropriate" sex education or biology? Can you name any schools in Florida that are or have done this?
Secondly the bill is not protecting parental rights at all. It's allowing minors who potentially have not outed themselves to their parents due to fear of abusive reprisal to not have that protection anymore. If this becomes law, it forces staff/teachers/administrators to out LGBTQIA+ minors to their parents - and for some kids that could end with abuse from their parents. It also gives parents the right to sue school districts who withhold the information.
If they truly don't want ANY discussion of sexual orientation of any kind - whether LGBTQIA+ OR heterosexuality - then no more celebrating Valentines Day at school. Heterosexual staff at schools cannot display photos of their partners/spouses. They can't discuss anything about their sexual orientation. Heterosexual minors cannot discuss theirs either.
Ooh let's add in that there's another bill that passed Florida's Senate on Thursday that would prohibit instruction that says certain races or sexes are privileged or oppressed. That one is under the guise of "individual freedom" and would prohibit Florida public schools and private businesses from making people feel "guilt, anguish or other forms of psychological distress" based on their races, sexes or national origins.
Both bills are ridiculous and literally have no purpose other than to oppress minorities and LGBTQIA+ individuals and outing those who haven't told their parents.
OMFG sexual orientation and your fucking magic sky daddy have NOTHING to do with each other. No one ever said don't teach about religion in school. It's been said to teach ALL religions and their place in history. Not soliciting one over another or pushing one over another. Sorry not everyone believes the same as you.
Every day I lose more and more faith in humanity. How the fuck are we in 2022 and we are devolving? Not evolving.
Posted 4 h ago
I don’t see what is controversial about it. Basically all this law does is prevent teachers and schools in general from teaching about sex snd Biology in inappropriate ways to small children3rd grade and below. Myself, I believe this is a parents responsibility to teach their children as they will. If we tried teaching these same youngsters about God, the roof would come off. MHO
--- Of course you don't see what's controversial about this. No that law does not "just" prevent teachers and schools from teaching about sex and biology in inappropriate ways to children. That's not at all what it's about. It's pretty obvious you haven't even read the bill at all.
First off, what schools are actually teaching kids "inappropriate" sex education or biology? Can you name any schools in Florida that are or have done this?
Secondly the bill is not protecting parental rights at all. It's allowing minors who potentially have not outed themselves to their parents due to fear of abusive reprisal to not have that protection anymore. If this becomes law, it forces staff/teachers/administrators to out LGBTQIA+ minors to their parents - and for some kids that could end with abuse from their parents. It also gives parents the right to sue school districts who withhold the information.
If they truly don't want ANY discussion of sexual orientation of any kind - whether LGBTQIA+ OR heterosexuality - then no more celebrating Valentines Day at school. Heterosexual staff at schools cannot display photos of their partners/spouses. They can't discuss anything about their sexual orientation. Heterosexual minors cannot discuss theirs either.
Ooh let's add in that there's another bill that passed Florida's Senate on Thursday that would prohibit instruction that says certain races or sexes are privileged or oppressed. That one is under the guise of "individual freedom" and would prohibit Florida public schools and private businesses from making people feel "guilt, anguish or other forms of psychological distress" based on their races, sexes or national origins.
Both bills are ridiculous and literally have no purpose other than to oppress minorities and LGBTQIA+ individuals and outing those who haven't told their parents.
OMFG sexual orientation and your fucking magic sky daddy have NOTHING to do with each other. No one ever said don't teach about religion in school. It's been said to teach ALL religions and their place in history. Not soliciting one over another or pushing one over another. Sorry not everyone believes the same as you.
Every day I lose more and more faith in humanity. How the fuck are we in 2022 and we are devolving? Not evolving.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
LTC David Brown - when did you know your sexual orientation? I'll assume you are heterosexual?
I knew I'm heterosexual when I was six. I had a crush on a boy in my class from 1-12 grade.
One of my brothers is gay. He said he knew when he was five; however, growing up in rural Nebraska at the time he definitely could never tell anyone that. So he had to hide it until he was about 20. That's when he came out.
And your little studies - it's not the religious aspect of church attendance. It's the social part of it. That live science article even said "or any other social activity." So your little attempt to prove that religion is beneficial didn't work at all.
Your posts are so fucking laughable it's almost sad.
I knew I'm heterosexual when I was six. I had a crush on a boy in my class from 1-12 grade.
One of my brothers is gay. He said he knew when he was five; however, growing up in rural Nebraska at the time he definitely could never tell anyone that. So he had to hide it until he was about 20. That's when he came out.
And your little studies - it's not the religious aspect of church attendance. It's the social part of it. That live science article even said "or any other social activity." So your little attempt to prove that religion is beneficial didn't work at all.
Your posts are so fucking laughable it's almost sad.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
LTC David Brown - " I have Raised three kids, helped with two step children and now have 5 grand children."
Yes kids do know sexual orientation when they are young. You're just an ignorant bigot. Have the day you deserve.
Yes kids do know sexual orientation when they are young. You're just an ignorant bigot. Have the day you deserve.
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LTC David Brown
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff - Once again the name calling and four lettered words. Oh well it is expected. I always have a good day, I probably don’t deserve it. I wake up and thank God for my life, I count some of my many blessings, and then move on. I hope you have a nice day also. There are studies that indicate elderly also benefit from regular Church attendance, maybe you should try it to improve your disposition.
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LTC David Brown
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff - In criticizing the article I posted,what part of “ could be” didn’t you understand? That is speculation.
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