Georgia lawmakers introduced legislation this week that would ban discussions of gender identity and sexual orientation in some private school classrooms.
The Common Humanity in Private Education Act, co-sponsored by 10 Republican state senators, states that “No private or non-public school or program … shall promote, coerce, or encourage classroom discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in elementary school.” in a way that is inappropriate for the age and developmental level of the student.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted a Republican sponsor, Burt Jones, as saying, “No teacher should encourage discussions about gender identity with young children in a classroom — and that’s what this bill says and why I support it.”
While supporters of the bill say it will promote parental rights and inclusion, LGBTQ advocates argue that it is part of a nationwide effort to restrict the rights of LGBTQ youth.
“We know this isn’t about parental rights,” said Jeff Graham, executive director of LGBTQ advocacy group Georgia Equality. “It’s really about limiting kids’ activities, participation and learning in school.”
The measure, which alleges private school educators in the state have “inappropriately debated gender identity with children” and increasingly subscribed to critical race theory, would also prohibit promoting the idea that “a person’s bears responsibility for past acts committed by other members of the same race or sex.”
The law was introduced on the same day that the Florida Senate passed the Parents’ Rights in Education Act, which critics have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” law and restricts discussions of LGBTQ issues in schools would.
While Florida’s bill has garnered national attention and appears poised to be signed into law by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, several other states introduced similar measures this year.
Tennessee Republicans introduced a bill in January that would ban public schools in grades K-12 from using textbooks or instructional materials that “promote, normalize, support, or appeal to lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) lifestyles.” House Republicans introduced the legislation on Tuesday.
In Kansas, House Republicans introduced a bill last month that would amend the state’s obscenity law to make it a Class B misdemeanor to teach educational materials about “homosexuality.” The bill was referred to the K-12 Education Committee.
Indiana House is considering a measure introduced this year that would ban teachers from discussing human sexuality — including abortion, birth control, sexual orientation and “transgenderism” — with students under the age of 18 without parental consent. The bill was forwarded to the Board of Education.
Proponents say Georgia’s bill is unlikely to pass in the Senate before Tuesday’s deadline. Georgia Equality said in an emailed statement that the measure’s “dangerously vague provisions would have a chilling effect on supporting LGBTQ youth.”
“The Georgia Don’t Say Gay law is government-sanctioned censorship disguised as nondiscrimination,” the group said. It also states that one-third of same-sex couples living in the state are raising children and that most families in Georgia have LGBTQ family members.
“Simply talking about your family could violate the terms of this bill,” the group warned.
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