“Don’t Say Gay” Expansion Passes in Alabama State House

A bill expanding the restrictions of discussions of “gender identity or sexual orientation” in public schools was passed by the Alabama state House on Tuesday.

According to ABC News, the law currently on the books prevents classrooms from kindergarten to fifth grade from “engag[ing] in classroom discussion or provid[ing] classroom instruction regarding sexual orientation or gender identity in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”

The expanded version of the bill, HB130, would extend the same restrictions through

eighth grade and ban all Pride flags from K-12 schools. State Rep. Mack Butler, the bill’s sponsor, said in a hearing that the bill is a response to “some indoctrination going on” and an attempt to “purify the schools.”

This possible expansion in Alabama comes amidst news that Florida’s infamous “Don’t Say Gay” bill was expanded by the Florida Board of Education to prohibit instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for grades four through 12, “unless such instruction is either expressly required by state academic standards… or is part of a reproductive health course or health lesson for which a student’s parent has the option to have his or her student not attend.”

“Expanding this ban from fifth grade to twelfth grade and prohibiting discussion on the topic in all Alabama’s public schools pushes back education in a state where there is already significant need for our students,” the ACLU of Alabama said in a statement. “If HB130 passes, it will rid classrooms and students in the state of Alabama of inclusive discussion that is essential at all stages of life.”