Restricting pronoun use in schools gets early backing in Florida Senate
Republican lawmakers say Florida school employees should not be allowed to call students by pronouns that differ from those given to them at birth — even when a parent approves of using the different pronoun.
The idea is moving forward in proposed legislation that would also require every public K-12 school to have a policy that says it is “false” to ascribe to a person a pronoun that does not correspond to their assigned sex, which under the law would be defined as an “immutable, or unchanging, biological trait.”
It is the latest salvo in the state’s ongoing battle over transgender rights in schools and society at large, as Gov. Ron DeSantis makes cultural issues a cornerstone of an expected presidential bid this year.
Republican Sen. Clay Yarborough of Jacksonville said the goal of his prohave posed legislation (SB 1320) — which cleared the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee on Monday — is to build on last year’s Parental Rights in Education law.
The law, which critics dubbed the “don’t say gay” law, currently bars classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in early elementary school grades as a means to protect the “fundamental rights of parents.”
Yarborough wants to expand the prohibition through middle school and include the additional element that would bar educators and school employees from referring to students with pronouns that differ from those assigned to them at birth. The bill, which Yarborough said would further protect parental rights, does not offer exemptions for parents who want their kids to use different pronouns.
“While the scenario could be brought up about a particular student’s mom and dad being OK with them using a pronoun,” Yarborough said, “you might 19, 20 or 24 other kids in a classroom whose parents may not be OK with them being introduced to that.”
Democratic lawmakers and opponents of the bill argued the proposal disregards the rights of parents who support their transgender children’s social transition — changing their name or pronoun to affirm their gender identity.
An estimated 16,200 Florida teens — roughly 1.32% of children aged 13 through 17 — identify as transgender, according to data from Florida’s 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
“Which parents are right? Is it only the parents of the child who is straight? What about the parent that has an LGBTQ son or daughter or a transgender son and daughter?” said Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park.
Kaylee Sandell, a junior at Leon County High School, raised concerns about the impacts that the bill would have on her peers. She said she believes the bill will isolate and hurt LGBTQ youth because it will make them feel as though “there’s something wrong with them.”
“I believe there is a better way that can create a more kind, compassionate and successful environment for students,” Sandell said.