Problems with the legislation remain, including vague prohibitions that will likely bury schools in lawsuits.
The Florida House of Representatives on Thursday passed a bill which seeks to limit discussion of gender and sexuality in public schools. However, the bill is moving forward without its most controversial amendment: a requirement that schools disclose to parents any changes in a student’s “emotional, mental, or physical” health. According to supporters of House Bill 1557—formally titled the Parental Rights in Education bill and labeled the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by critics—its purpose is primarily to support parents’ rights to prevent their children from being taught certain concepts about sexuality. “We’ve seen instances of students being told by different folks in school, ‘Oh, don’t worry. Don’t pick your gender yet. Do all this other stuff,'” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) said in early February. “They won’t tell the parents about these discussions that are happening. That is entirely inappropriate. Schools need to be teaching kids to read, to write.” The bill has drawn the ire of civil liberties and LGBT groups since its introduction in January, but drew national attention earlier this month when bill co-sponsor Rep. Joe Harding ( R–Williston) introduced an amendment that would have required school principals to share with parents “child-specific information personally known to the school personnel.
