Aired Feb 3, 2022
“Parental Rights in Education Bills” Will Hurt Marginalized Youth
The Florida state legislature is considering a bill that many argue would hurt LGBTQ+ youth and force them back into the closet. This episode of Something To Talk About Live, we will be discussing Jo Yurcaba’s article in NBC News, “Chasten Buttigieg says Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill will push kids ‘back into the closet’” with Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida.
Something to Talk About Live is a series designed by PFLAG National’s Straight for Equality program to create conversation about LGBTQ+ issues. Each week we offer an article on LGBTQ+ topics and suggest a few questions you can use to lead a discussion with your ERG, community group, or PFLAG chapter.
We hosted a conversation about this article as a part of PFLAG Connects and Something to Talk About Live on Thursday, February 3. Did you miss it? You can still watch it here!
Article: Chasten Buttigieg says Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill will push kids ‘back into the closet’
Source: NBC News
Author: Jo Yurcaba
Questions for Discussion:
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What impact do you think “parental rights in education” bills – like the one being considered in the Florida legislature detailed in this article – will have on students who are LGBTQ+? What about students who have parents that are LGBTQ+? Teachers and school personnel who are LGBTQ+? What do you think the impact on students who do not identify as LGBTQ+ will be?
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Is the debate about “Don’t Say Gay” bills like this one connected to the debate about critical race theory and book bans happening throughout the US? If so, how are they connected? If not, how are they different?
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What can parents, family members, and allies can do to support inclusive school curriculum that affirms and celebrates diversity and inclusion? Identify specific actions that you can think of from the everyday to larger advocacy.
Bonus reads: Check out a few op-eds on the bill being considered in Florida including this one by LZ Granderson in The LA Times and this one by Bess Levin in Vanity Fair.
About Our Guests:
Nadine Smith, Executive Director, Equality Florida
Ways to Watch: