Georgia legislators introduce a Florida-style 'Don't Say Gay' bill

Georgia legislators introduced a bill this week that would prohibit discussions about gender identity and sexual orientation in some private school classrooms.

The Common Humanity in Private Education Act, which is co-sponsored by 10 Republican state senators, states that “no private or nonpublic school or program … shall promote, compel, or encourage classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not appropriate for the age and developmental stage of the student.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted a Republican sponsor, Burt Jones, as saying, “No teacher should be promoting gender identity discussions with small children in a classroom setting — which is exactly what this bill says and why I support it.”

While supporters of the bill say it promotes parental rights and inclusion, LGBTQ advocates argue it’s part of a nationwide effort to limit the rights of LGBTQ youths.