Louisiana Republican introduces ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill mirroring Florida legislation

One week after Florida legislators passed a widely derided measure that opponents warn will marginalise LGBT+ students and chill classroom speech, a Republican state legislator in Louisiana has introduced a similar bill.

A bill from Republican state Rep Dodie Horton mirroring Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation would prohibit Louisiana’s teachers and school instructors from “cover[ing] the topics of sexual orientation or gender identity” in kindergarten through eighth grade classrooms.

It also prohibits all school staff from “discuss[ing] his own sexual orientation or gender identity” with students of any grade.

Rep Horton told Baton Rouge ABC affiliate WBRZ that she “wasn’t aware of the need [for this legislation] until I looked at some things on Twitter and Facebook.”