Class

Article

College

Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services

Department

English Department

Faculty Mentor

Cree Taylor

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Abstract

On February 8th, 2022, Republican Representative Joe Harding of Florida proposed the “Parental Rights in Education Bill''. Under this Bill, classroom discussion from grades k-3rd grade will be exclusively heterosexual and will limit how much teacher’s can say in regards to the LGBTQ community in those grades. The bill states that a school “may not encourage classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate”. Within the LGBTQ community, mental health is at a staggering low. Thoughts of guilt, self-hatred and fear lead to thoughts or acts of suicide within the community. These teens have been conditioned to feel shameful about their identity from a young age, an age that would benefit from classroom discussion about sexual and gender orientationIf this bill passes, LGBTQ youth will feel as though their identity and expression is shameful. As if they are something to hide or that they are broken in some way. Not only is this way of thinking dangerous, but it is also hurtful. Left-leaning individuals, allies and members of the LGBTQ community argue that LGBTQ youth need to feel more included in their everyday lives and they need to be given support by their government.

Location

Logan, UT

Start Date

4-8-2022 12:00 AM

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Apr 8th, 12:00 AM

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Logan, UT

On February 8th, 2022, Republican Representative Joe Harding of Florida proposed the “Parental Rights in Education Bill''. Under this Bill, classroom discussion from grades k-3rd grade will be exclusively heterosexual and will limit how much teacher’s can say in regards to the LGBTQ community in those grades. The bill states that a school “may not encourage classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary grade levels or in a manner that is not age-appropriate”. Within the LGBTQ community, mental health is at a staggering low. Thoughts of guilt, self-hatred and fear lead to thoughts or acts of suicide within the community. These teens have been conditioned to feel shameful about their identity from a young age, an age that would benefit from classroom discussion about sexual and gender orientationIf this bill passes, LGBTQ youth will feel as though their identity and expression is shameful. As if they are something to hide or that they are broken in some way. Not only is this way of thinking dangerous, but it is also hurtful. Left-leaning individuals, allies and members of the LGBTQ community argue that LGBTQ youth need to feel more included in their everyday lives and they need to be given support by their government.