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I've also read the bill, and it's easy to quote. It explicitly says that any discussion about "sexual identity" is banned. One of the requirement clauses state

by tedivm 5y ago

I've also read the bill, and it's easy to quote. It explicitly says that any discussion about "sexual identity" is banned. One of the requirement clauses states that the bill is "prohibiting classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels or in a specified manner". That quote is the whole clause. It doesn't ban instruction, it bans discussion. It is explicit. Those exact words. Anyone who says otherwise either did not actually read the bill, or they didn't read it very well.

mjburgess 5y ago
I don't read that as saying a teacher can't say "men can be married" -- that isn't a discussion of sexual orientation. If I prohibit talking about atoms, I am not prohibiting talking about every physical object. I am prohibiting talk about the explicit concept of atoms. Likewise here, how I read this is straightforward: explicit discussion of sexual orientation, ie., which genders/sexes people are sexually attracted to; must only occur from c. 8/9yo+. Ditto for gender identity. That a person's born physical sex may deviate from their perceived sexual identity -- discussions about that don't seem all that urgent below 9yo. The issue the bill seems to be addressing isn't mentioning that people are gay, are married as gay etc -- the issue is in having discussions about anyone's sexual preference "too early" with children. I think even saying "X person is trans" in classroom isn't forbidden -- rather just making "trans" or "gay" (or "straight") a topic of discussion. The bill is a direct response to rare, but noted occurrences of teachers giving very young children lessons from highly controversial books on gender and sexuality at ages where those children are not being taught these subjects -- but necessarily, rather, being encouraged to accept (controversial) conclusions about them. We arent talking about educating 5yos on the nature of sexuality. They don't have enough experiences and development to discuss this.
- tedivm 5y ago
  Lawyers completely disagree with your interpretation. Being say is part of someone's sexual orientation, so the don't say gay bill prohibits discussing it at all. Being trans is part of a gender identity so it is not allowed to be discussed. The law is very explicit in this, as I've quoted.

by tedivm 5y ago

mjburgess 5y ago

I don't read that as saying a teacher can't say "men can be married" -- that isn't a discussion of sexual orientation. If I prohibit talking about atoms, I am not prohibiting talking about every physical object. I am prohibiting talk about the explicit concept of atoms. Likewise here, how I read this is straightforward: explicit discussion of sexual orientation, ie., which genders/sexes people are sexually attracted to; must only occur from c. 8/9yo+. Ditto for gender identity. That a person's born physical sex may deviate from their perceived sexual identity -- discussions about that don't seem all that urgent below 9yo. The issue the bill seems to be addressing isn't mentioning that people are gay, are married as gay etc -- the issue is in having discussions about anyone's sexual preference "too early" with children. I think even saying "X person is trans" in classroom isn't forbidden -- rather just making "trans" or "gay" (or "straight") a topic of discussion. The bill is a direct response to rare, but noted occurrences of teachers giving very young children lessons from highly controversial books on gender and sexuality at ages where those children are not being taught these subjects -- but necessarily, rather, being encouraged to accept (controversial) conclusions about them. We arent talking about educating 5yos on the nature of sexuality. They don't have enough experiences and development to discuss this.

tedivm 5y ago
Lawyers completely disagree with your interpretation. Being say is part of someone's sexual orientation, so the don't say gay bill prohibits discussing it at all. Being trans is part of a gender identity so it is not allowed to be discussed. The law is very explicit in this, as I've quoted.