JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A controversial new amendment has been filed to legislation opponents have dubbed the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.
LGBTQ advocates claim it would require schools to disclose students’ sexual orientation or gender identity to their parents, even if there are concerns the student might suffer abuse, neglect or abandonment
The amendment requires schools to release information critical to a student’s mental, emotional or physical health to parents within six weeks.
Opponents fear that includes information relating to a student’s sexual orientation and gender identity.
“This amendment requires a school to out a student to unsupportive parents,” said State Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando).
Smith knows firsthand how difficult coming out to your parents can be.
“Speaking from personal experience, the idea of being unwillingly outed to your parents when you’re young, you’re queer, you’re questioning, is absolutely horrifying,” said Smith.
His biggest concern with the proposed amendment is that is doesn’t seem to provide any avenues to keep a student’s LGBTQ status shielded from their parents, even when abuse is suspected.
“I cannot underscore how horrifying that is going to be for LGBTQ youth. Knowing that this will be disclosed at a time certain against their will,” said Smith.
But Anthony Verdugo with the Christian Family Coalition says he doesn’t believe that is the intent of the amendment.
“The amendment very clearly says that everything that is done has to be for the wellbeing of the child,” said Verdugo.
Rather, Verdugo argues the intent is to prevent parents from being cut out entirely.
“School officials are now supplanting the role of the parent and giving unauthorized questionnaires and surveys to children on what their sex might be or their sexual identity,” said Verdugo.
But Jon Harris Maurer with Equality Florida told us he’s deeply concerned the amendment would directly put LGBTQ youth in harm’s way.
“We know that our LGBTQ youth are already 40 percent of our homeless youth population and it’s because they face higher rates of issues like family rejection and abuse at home to begin with,” said Maurer.
We did reach out to bill sponsor Representative Joe Harding for an interview to get some clarity on whether the amendment would truly leave no path available for schools to keep the sexual orientation or gender identity of a student confidential.
We were told he wouldn’t be available until later in the week.
The amendment is set to be considered on the House floor Tuesday.
©2022 Cox Media Group
