'Don't say gay' bill: Florida should learn from the harmful legacy of Britain's section 28

[RKP5637]

https://theconversation.com/dont-say-gay-bill-florida-should-learn-from-the-harmful-legacy-of-britains-section-28-176955

The Conversation - Academic rigor, journalistic flair



Florida lawmakers have advanced a bill that would bar teachers from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom. The parental rights in education bill, labelled the “don’t say gay” bill by critics, would also prevent teachers and school counsellors from giving support to LGBTQ+ students, without first getting permission from their parents.

Florida follows other states with similar statutes restricting classroom discussion of same-sex relationships or mandating that sex education teaches “honor and respect for monogamous heterosexual marriage”. Florida’s bill also allows parents to sue school districts for damages if they believe a teacher has broken the law.

This bill has strong echoes of section 28, the 1988 law that prevented local authorities in the UK from promoting homosexuality. As state schools were at the time led by local authorities, section 28 prevented schools from teaching the acceptability of homosexuality as a “pretended family relationship”.

The legacy of section 28 shows the long-term impact legislation like this can have on students and teachers. Section 28 emerged from the Conservative party’s 1987 election campaign, based around family values and a “parents know best” agenda. The Conservatives portrayed the opposition Labour party as pro-gay, and school teachers, who traditionally voted Labour, as a danger to children.

Florida’s bill is similarly suspicious of teachers and advocates parental vigilance. Ron DeSantis, Florida governor and 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, stated: “Parents must have a seat at the table when it comes to what’s going on in their schools.” This is reminiscent of a comment in 2000 by Conservative MP Theresa May, who voted to keep section 28 in place: “Most parents want the comfort of knowing section 28 is there.”

Florida lawmakers have advanced a bill that would bar teachers from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom. The parental rights in education bill, labelled the “don’t say gay” bill by critics, would also prevent teachers and school counsellors from giving support to LGBTQ+ students, without first getting permission from their parents.

Florida follows other states with similar statutes restricting classroom discussion of same-sex relationships or mandating that sex education teaches “honor and respect for monogamous heterosexual marriage”. Florida’s bill also allows parents to sue school districts for damages if they believe a teacher has broken the law.

This bill has strong echoes of section 28, the 1988 law that prevented local authorities in the UK from promoting homosexuality. As state schools were at the time led by local authorities, section 28 prevented schools from teaching the acceptability of homosexuality as a “pretended family relationship”.

Teachers believed they would lose their jobs if they gave advice and support to LGBTQ+ students, or challenged homophobic language and bullying. LGBTQ+ teachers were left in fear, believing that their identity alone was grounds for dismissal from their job.
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The legacy of section 28 shows the long-term impact legislation like this can have on students and teachers. Section 28 emerged from the Conservative party’s 1987 election campaign, based around family values and a “parents know best” agenda. The Conservatives portrayed the opposition Labour party as pro-gay, and school teachers, who traditionally voted Labour, as a danger to children.

Florida’s bill is similarly suspicious of teachers and advocates parental vigilance. Ron DeSantis, Florida governor and 2024 Republican presidential hopeful, stated: “Parents must have a seat at the table when it comes to what’s going on in their schools.” This is reminiscent of a comment in 2000 by Conservative MP Theresa May, who voted to keep section 28 in place: “Most parents want the comfort of knowing section 28 is there.”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signalled support for the ‘don’t say gay’ bill.

Research shows that section 28 left a damaging legacy for the LGBTQ+ young people who were students at the time. Many are still scarred by the absence of any pastoral or mental health support at the most challenging period of their adolescence. As one student who went on to become a teacher said:

I thought I was the only person who was gay at my school. I couldn’t talk to my teachers, though I didn’t know why until years later … I now try to be the role model I never had at school, but I know some parents are not happy.

LGBTQ+ teachers are similarly, deeply affected. Fifteen years after section 28 was repealed, I surveyed LGBTQ+ teachers who had taught under the law and compared their responses with LGBTQ+ teachers who entered teaching after section 28 had been repealed. I found that teachers who worked during the section 28 era remain more cautious, vigilant and anxious in their school workplaces than those LGBTQ+ teachers entering the profession more recently.

My research showed that LGBTQ+ teachers’ principal fear remains that parents of students they teach will associate their identity with hypersexuality and paedophilia. One teacher with experience of section 28 said:

I know that I have a responsibility to LGBT+ kids in school and it upsets me when I see them struggling like I did … but I worry what parents will think of me if I try to help. Sometimes I feel like I’d be viewed as a predator or something.

64% of LGBTQ+ teachers who taught under section 28 have experienced a serious episode of anxiety or depression linked to their sexual or gender identity and role as a teacher. This compares with just 31% of the overall teaching population.

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Every single reprehensible anti-gay practice seems to be up for reinstallation in some states.

Maybe it's good so people can actually see how reprehensible these practices targeting innocent groups truly are? After all, we seem to have other practices in some states already targeting certain sections of their populations (and I got to thrown in this ... where is the damn Supreme Court, to knock down every one of these thuggish Jim Crow, or worse initiatives)?

[RKP5637]

2. And it will spread, this is just the beginning, the same tactics can be used on any minority

be it religion, race, color, politics ... whatever. I swear, it's getting like 1930's Germany tactics. We have some horrific politicians running around in the US and the Supreme Court appears to have little interest in controlling these thugs. I don't think enough people are paying attentions to the implications of these maneuvers. It is dangerous, very dangerous, to the entire population ... because it will spread. It's a well thought out tactic and strategy.

[SWBTATTReg]

3. It will spread, perhaps maybe a good thing, after all, look how the Country reacted w/ shock

after the 1/6/21 riot in DC, the Unite the Right march in Charlottesville, etc. All events that shown the vast majority of Americans just how vile these groups and their thinking are.

It's really too bad for I fear innocent people will get hurt, because of a lot of screwed up thugs running around in the streets. I do wish that sometimes the politicians running around citing such ridiculous rhetoric (and thus violence) need to be slapped down, or worse, for inciting violence (and they know this), seemingly leaning towards sedition, etc.

[RKP5637]

4. Yes, could be. I often think the general populace still does not truly grasp how evil and violent

some politicians are and how they stir up similar against innocent people. They set a mood in the air for hostilities waiting to be provoked by something real or imagined.