Gender ID, sexual orientation can be talked about in Florida classrooms after lawsuit settlement

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News/AP

March 11, 2024 / 5:17 PM EDT


Students and teachers will be able to speak freely about sexual orientation and gender identity in Florida classrooms, provided it's not part of instruction, under a settlement reached Monday between Florida education officials and civil rights attorneys who had challenged a state law which critics dubbed "Don't Say Gay."

The settlement clarifies what is allowed in Florida classrooms following passage two years ago of the law prohibiting instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades. Opponents said the law had created confusion about whether teachers could identity themselves as LGBTQ+ or if they even could have rainbow stickers in classrooms. Other states used the Florida law as a template to pass prohibitions on classroom instruction on gender identity or sexual orientation. Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky and North Carolina are among the states with versions of the law.

Under the terms of the settlement, the Florida Board of Education will send instructions to every school district saying the Florida law doesn't prohibit discussing LGBTQ+ people, nor prevent anti-bullying rules on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or disallow Gay-Straight Alliance groups. The settlement also spells out that the law is neutral — meaning what applies to LGBTQ+ people also applies to heterosexual people — and that it doesn't apply to library books not being used in the classroom.

"What this settlement does, is, it re-establishes the fundamental principal, that I hope all Americans agree with, which is every kid in this country is entitled to an education at a public school where they feel safe, their dignity is respected and where their families and parents are welcomed," Roberta Kaplan, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said in an interview. "This shouldn't be a controversial thing."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sexual-orientation-gender-id-florida-classrooms-lawsuit-settlement/

[Chi67]

1. A step in the right direction

However, "instruction" should not be prohibited either.

[Demovictory9]

2. Wow

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Omigod, I can hardly believe this ruling happened, but I'm thrilled beyond belief! nt

[Chi67]

4. It's a good start, but...

...LGBT kids should be able to expect information in classes such as sex education, just like other kids do. That would definitely fall under "instruction". That appears to be prohibited under this settlement. Don't get me wrong, this is a good step, but it still a little lacking. It also does not appear to affect book banning, but maybe I'm wrong.

EDIT, seems I am wrong about book banning according to this article:

"The settlement protects student clubs such as the Gay-Straight Alliance, reinforces nondiscrimination protections, and prevents the banning of library books related to classroom topics, Equality Florida said."

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/settlement-allows-florida-teachers-say-gay-classroom-2024-03-12/#:~:text=The%20settlement%20protects%20student%20clubs,classroom%20topics%2C%20Equality%20Florida%20said.

[SouthernDem4ever]

5. I think the legislature used it as an excuse to keep from losing their elections

They were on their way to losing their stronghold in Floriduh. I don't trust any of them as far as Micky Mouse can throw them.