Indiana ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill pivots to kids’ gender identity
Parents could be required by Indiana’s public schools to inform their children if a student chooses a different gender or prefers a different name. This is according to a bill House members approved Monday.
Through hours of testimony, a vociferous crowd remained outside the House chamber cheering the opponents and bashing Republican legislators who supported it.
It’s just a name. It’s just an name. It’s just a name. These are the names of children. Children’s names. “You should be ashamed,” screamed one man during the discussion, before Indiana State Police led him out of the House Chamber.
The bill was opposed by 9-4 votes of lawmakers, who voted to send it to the full House. They claimed that it would alienate LGBTQ youth, especially transgender youths, and force them to openly discuss their sexuality with their parents.
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House Bill 1608 aims to empower Hoosier parents, ensuring that they are in control of sensitive topics and introducing them to their children’s minds.
Davis’ idea was supported by other supporters.
Micah Clark, executive Director of the Indiana Family Association, stated that “if a student questions his gender identity to teachers, the best answer is to talk to their parents.”
Matt Sharp, Alliance Defending Freedom, stated that teachers should not be forced to change their beliefs about male and female in order to maintain their jobs.
The parental notification proposal was one of several amendments to a bill which began out more closely resembling Florida legislation that was enacted March 2022. People who claim it marginalizes LGBTQ persons have been intensely critical of the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill. The measure’s supporters argue that it is reasonable as parents and not teachers should discuss such topics with their children.
Original Indiana legislation would have banned teachers from teaching third-graders about topics related to sexuality and gender identity. The amended bill restricted the prohibited topics to only sexual education, something that was already common in the early grades.
“If a child is in the first grad and asks their teacher: ‘Why Joey has two mommies but I only have one?'” asked Democratic Rep. Ed Delaney.
You can have one mom, two dads or both. Davis replied, “The rest of the conversation should be with parents I believe.”
Missouri legislators also rejected a stricter version of the “Don’t Say Gay” law. The Missouri Senate Committee voted in favor of a bill that would have required public school teachers to inform parents if their child is “discomfort or confused” about their gender identity.
Sophie Fitzgerald requests that members of the Education Committee vote no on HB 1608. She began her testimony by giving the names of her mothers and telling lawmakers, “Yes, I have two moms.” pic.twitter.com/pKBCNTkfsy
Emily Longnecker (@EmilyWTHR), February 20, 2023
Haras Shirley (a transgender man) testified Monday that the House legislation was “a direct conflict in interest to what I’m swearing to do” for students at Indianapolis high schools as a school resource officer.
Shirley stated, “I will continue being a beacon for students, regardless of the cost.”
The House bill in Indiana, which was authored by Republican Rep. Michelle Davis would apply only to public schools. It would also prohibit teachers and staff from disciplining students who use “a name or pronoun or title or any other word to identify a child that is consistent or similar to the student’s legal names.”
Davis stated Monday that this was common-sense legislation to support transparency, parental fundamental rights, and shouldn’t be forgotten at the school door.
Chris McGrath, a teacher in Lafayette, Indiana, disagreed.
McGrath asked, “How can I not have the right (a school) call my child a nickname that I gave them?” “I could insist that they use the child’s name right now and that they use her/his pronouns. How can I force the institution to do this?
