State-level legislation and executive orders this year shifted from censoring racial issues in classrooms and instead focused on censoring LGBTQ+ issues, according to a new report from PEN America. At the same time, this significant shift also created an increased resistance to these unpopular laws and policies.
The free-expression nonprofit PEN America has been tracking what it describes as βeducational gag ordersβ since 2021. While such bills introduced in 2021 and 2022 focused on limiting how issues of race and racism could be taught in classrooms, in 2023, conservative lawmakers and advocates turned their attention to banning discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in Kβ12 classrooms.
The anti-LGBTQ+ groupβs candidates lost big in at least four states.
βIt appears that Americaβs would-be censors now see proposals to restrict conversations about sexual orientation and gender identity as more of a winning political issue than efforts to restrict discussions of race and racism,β theΒ report stated. βLeveraging that presumed support, [conservatives] have attempted to enact sweeping restrictions on what school-age children can read and learn.β
PEN America documented 110 state-level bills introduced during the 2023 legislative sessions that it defined as educational gag orders. Only 10 became law, while four other restrictions on education were imposed via executive orders or state or system regulations. Of those 110 bills, 39 specifically targeted how public school teachers could discuss LGBTQ+ issues (five of those also applied to private schools).
According to the report, about three-quarters of those anti-LGBTQ+ bills were modeled on Floridaβs infamous βParental Rights in Education Act,β commonly known as the βDonβt Say Gayβ law.
These restrictions resulted not only in the marginalization of LGBTQ+ students and students with LGBTQ+ family members, they have also had a devastating impact on public education more broadly, forcing teachers to self-censor and contributing to teacher shortages across the country, the report added.
βIf teachers are afraid to make any mention of race or LGBTQ+ identities in the classroom, if they are afraid to answer student questions, if quality educators are leaving and cannot be replaced, students are the ones who suffer most,β PEN Americaβs report stated.
While efforts to impose educational censorship are expected to continue into 2024, the report also offers reason for hope in the form of increased resistance to such legislation. According to PEN America, at least 13 different lawsuits challenging educational gag orders are currently pending, and political resistance has also grown.
βOver the last three years β and especially in the past twelve months β an increasing number of national groups have begun dedicating significant resources to combat educational censorship,β according to the report. βSimultaneously, a network of state-centric groups β many of them founded by parents, community members, and educators themselves β has emerged to take the fight directly to the local school board or state legislature.β
As PEN America notes, growing public opposition to educational censorship targeting issues of race and LGBTQ+ identity could ultimately make such legislation less attractive to conservative lawmakers.
Notice this is in the news section, not in the opinion writer section.Β Β I went to the link.Β It is the supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics.Β Β I read the report, looked at how the study was done.Β The findings seem solid.Β Β This is the short version, easy to read version. That the totally discredited / debunked ROGD (rapid onset gender dysphoria) is used and pushed even though proven wrong is true.Β It has been pushed on my own Play Time by Tildeb and Nan.Β It just makes sense they said.Β Β Nope, only does if you are anti-trans looking for a reason not to agree with gender affirming care.Β Β The same thing happened when kids and adults felt safe coming out as gay, the number of people reporting to be gay increased dramatically, then remained steady.Β It is called the left handed syndrome, the idea that when people stopped being punished for being left handed, when the stigma was gone, the numbers of left handed people increased.Β Below are a couple quotes.Β Hugs.Β Scottie
The ROGD theory posits that trans identification is exploding specifically among AFAB youth, who are being preyed upon by βgender ideologyβ β but this analysis of nearly 200,000 adolescents disproves that hypothesis.
Of course, these findings are not the first to indicate that ROGD is junk science. The theory wasΒ first floated in 2018, and problems with the study that justified it were obvious from the start. Dr. Lisa Littman, a board member of theΒ βgender criticalβ group Genspect, published a survey of less than 300 parents of trans youth recruited from openly anti-trans communities like the UK-based TERF-y siteΒ MumsnetΒ who provided testimonials supporting Littmanβs hypothesis. That the paper wasΒ immediately retractedΒ or that Littman herself hasΒ misrepresented her own dataΒ havenβt prevented these βfindingsβ from becoming enmeshed on the right, though, in part because anti-trans dogmaΒ isnβt just about gender.
Scientists said any claims that people are becoming trans just to fit in βdoes not hold up to scrutiny.β
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 2021/08/06: Protesters wrapped in pride and trans pride flags sit on a wall during the trans rights demonstration.Protesters gathered outside Downing Street demanding an end to discrimination against the trans community, better support from the government against hate, and improvements to trans healthcare waiting times. (Photo by Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)SOPA Images/Getty Images
Over the past four years, opponents of transgender rights and protections have pushed a theory called βrapid onset gender dysphoria,β or ROGD, asserting that more young people are publicly identifiying as trans due to βsocial contagion.β “Trans people have long known this theory to be completely false, but now, a new study has finally proven it for good.”
A study published Wednesday in the journalΒ PediatricsΒ is the latest to demonstrate how the numbers just donβt line up in ROGDβs favor. Scientists analyzed data from the CDCβs 2017 and 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey in 16 states, looking particularly at the ratio of trans and gender-diverse youth who were assigned female at birth as opposed to those assigned male. The ROGD theory posits that trans identification is exploding specifically among AFAB youth, who are being preyed upon by βgender ideologyβ β but this analysis of nearly 200,000 adolescents disproves that hypothesis.
Β
Far from rising, the number of trans and gender diverse youth identified in the survey actually dropped significantly between 2017 and 2019, falling from 2.4% to 1.6%. And while the ratio of assigned-male to assigned-female trans youth did shrink, going from 1.5:1 to 1.2:1 over the two years analyzed, researchers found the numbers actually changed because there were fewer transfeminine youth in the latter survey, not more transmascs.
Β
Proponents of ROGD, includingΒ J.K. RowlingΒ andΒ Joe Rogan, have also claimed that transness is a βsocial contagionβ because young people are using trans identification as a way to escape homophobic bullying. Thereβs a lot of misconceptions to unpack in that one sentence, but theΒ PediatricsΒ study addresses the most vital one: once again, it was found, bullying and suicidal ideation rates were both higher among trans youth than their cis-identified peers, making the ROGD claim nonsensical.
βThe hypothesis that transgender and gender diverse youth assigned female at birth identify as transgender due to social contagion does not hold up to scrutiny and should not be used to argue against the provision of gender-affirming medical care for adolescents,β Dr. Alex S. Keuroghlian, one of the studyβs senior authors, said in aΒ statement. Lead author Dr. Jack Turban concurred, calling the idea that trans youth transition to escape social stigma βabsurd.β
βThe damaging effects of these unfounded hypotheses in further stigmatizing transgender and gender diverse youth cannot be understated,β Turban stressed. βWe hope that clinicians, policymakers, journalists, and anyone else who contributes to health policy will review these findings.β
Researchers say it points to the growing scientific conclusion that βgender affirming care is life saving care.β
————————————————————————————
Β
Of course, these findings are not the first to indicate that ROGD is junk science. The theory wasΒ first floated in 2018, and problems with the study that justified it were obvious from the start. Dr. Lisa Littman, a board member of theΒ βgender criticalβ group Genspect, published a survey of less than 300 parents of trans youth recruited from openly anti-trans communities like the UK-based TERF-y siteΒ MumsnetΒ who provided testimonials supporting Littmanβs hypothesis. That the paper wasΒ immediately retractedΒ or that Littman herself hasΒ misrepresented her own dataΒ havenβt prevented these βfindingsβ from becoming enmeshed on the right, though, in part because anti-trans dogmaΒ isnβt just about gender.
Weβd like to believe that this will finally put Littmanβs harmful falsehoods to rest, but sadly, truth-telling is not a hallmark of the reactionary right. Hopefully this can at least reassure some trans youth that theyβre not monsters or dupes, and that their identities deserve respect β even if some insist on screaming otherwise.
This is the result and fear of the minority when they try to rule over the majority.Β Β Think of it.Β The majority of the voting public, the people, want this right.Β So republicans being a minority based on misogynistic religious ideals want to deny the majority the right to have a say.Β Β That is the republican right wing maga in its entirety.Β Β That is the mom’s of liberty, the mom’s of TikTok, it is the idea that a racist bigoted repressive regressive oppressive religious minority trying desperately to force their ideas on the rest of society.Β I am so sick of these anti-democracy theocratic republican minority trying to force the rest of the country to live by what their preacher says.Β Β Hugs.Β Β Scottie
From the linked article, here is what the class would teach.Β ββ¦class and school wide presentations showcasing the achievements and recognizing the rich and diverse traditions, histories, and innumerable contributions of the Black communities.βΒ Β So we are catering to the parents that don’t want kids to know that gay / trans people exist, now we are catering to the racist parents that don’t want black history and achievements taught.Β Well the first one, don’t say gay increases harassment / attacks on gay and trans kids, the second does the same for black kids, it increases the racism they have to deal with.Β Some more quotes from the article.Β
But Gallon said he is concerned about the unintended consequences this may have on children whose parents choose not to have them attend.Β Β βSomething feels very off here, and the fact that the school needs to cover themselves against the state feels even worse,β said Peeling.Β Β Florida International University Professor Marvin Dunn, who is an expert in African-American history, said this will create a generation of people who are miseducated when it comes Black history.
Β
βWhen parents become involved in making that decision, keeping some kids out, some kids in, you have unequal learning,β said Dunn.Β Β
Here is the entire goal of the right, DeathSantis, and maga.Β
βThe intent of the DeSantis attack on education is to make schools more cautious, to make teachers more cautious about what they teach, and itβs working,β he said. βItβs not about banning books necessarily, itβs about banning ideas.βΒ Β Β
Hugs.Β Β Scottie
Miami School Asks Parents To Sign Permission Slips Allowing Children To Learn About Black History Month
February marks Black History Month, an important topic being taught at South Florida schools, but now parents at IPrep Academy are being asked to sign off on whether they want their children to participate in some of the educational events.
βI was shocked,β said concerned parent Jill Peeling, who said she thought she may have misunderstood the document. βIβm concerned. Iβm concerned as a citizen.β Miami-Dade School Board Member Steve Gallon said it all has to do with getting parental consent when individuals come on campus.
βThis is a policy thatβs an extension of a new state board rule,β said Gallon. Itβs a policy that was just enacted last year in November, an extension of the Parental Bill Of Rights.
Read theΒ full article. Those of here will know the Parental Bill of Rights by its more accurate name, βDonβt Say Gay.β To which we can add, βDonβt Say Black.β Last year the Miami-Dade School Board banned any recognition of LGBTQ History Month.
I am so glad I am not a parent and live in Florida.
These A-Holes are setting these kids up to fail when they get jobs in the real world because I can tell you my company won’t put up with discrimination.
A good friend sent this to me about a month ago.I think it came from a “reader poll” in his local paper, but I’m not sure. I can’t vouch for its accuracy, but I wasn’t surprised when I saw it. Friend is an MIT math grad who doesn’t traffic in conspiracy theories or create memes, so I give it some credence. He sent it with the comment “what a great country we live in”.
Fuckers. Why not turn this around and make the white supremacists sign OPT OUT slips so they can keep turning their own kids into good little klansmen, rather than trying to do it to everyone’s kids?
These are some of the disadvantages of leaving Black history* to a particular month β it becomes a set of optional activities, rather than facts and concepts to be learned.
*The history of African descendants in America is really the history of America, inextricable from the history of white America.
let’s be honest, what this is really about.Β Racism, bigotry, and misogyny.Β What do diversity programs do?Β Diversity programs promote acceptance of non-white non-straight non-cis people in the workforce and work to open the work force to those people.Β Yes it is so that work places become more accepting of those who are different from white straight cis men.Β Β
Which means people against diversity and inclusion are simply trying to promote a white straight cis male only in schools, higher education, and the white collar workers in the US, which means upper level income management positions.Β Β Notice these same people don’t seem to mind that the lower income labor positions are filled by the very people that the diversity inclusion programs are designed to lift up to better jobs and education.Β Β Weird that.Β Β Hugs.Β Scottie
Quotes from the linked article.
Under the Utah bill, universities and government would not be allowed to have offices dedicated to promoting diversity. They also could not require employees to submit statements of commitment to DEI.
The chamberβs six Democrats voted against it. Among them was Sen. Luz Escamilla, who cited statistics showing much lower college enrollment rates for Native American, Hispanic and Hawaiian/Pacific Islander students compared to white students.
The board that oversees Iowaβs public universities in November directed schools to eliminate staff positions focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. In December, the board overseeing Wisconsinβs university system agreed to shift dozens of DEI positions to instead focus on βstudent successβ and freeze hiring for DEI staff in exchange for lawmakers releasing state funding for pay raises and campus construction projects.
Like last year, this yearβs bills have a heavy focus on higher education. But Republicans also are sponsoring bills seeking to limit DEI in K-12 schools, state government, state contracting and pension investments. Some bills also would bar financial institutions from discriminating against those who refuse to participate in DEI programs.
Utahβs legislature became the latest in the U.S. to pass a bill Friday prohibiting diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government. The bill that cleared the state House and Senate by wide margins now heads to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican who has said he is likely to sign such a bill into law.
I can assure you, after this legislative session, it will not be happening in the state of Utah, these diversity statements that you have to sign to get hired,β Cox said in a Dec. 20 news conference. Such initiatives are βawful, bordering on evil,β he added.
Under the Utah bill, universities and government would not be allowed to have offices dedicated to promoting diversity. Last year, Republican-led Florida and Texas were first to enact broad-based laws banning diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in higher education.
Utahβs legislature is the latest in the U.S. to pass a bill prohibiting diversity training, hiring and inclusion programs at universities and in state government. https://t.co/pFksk34jh3
I just hate this. Why is it “evil” to try to treat others like you would want to be treated? Why is it evil to try to open up our society to give others the same opportunities that were hoarded by white people since before the founding of this nation? The “Golden Rule” of the Christianity they claim to follow is right in line with this, yet they call it “evil.” I guess the only positive here is that they’ve stopped hiding their racism. Now we know just who the problem really is.
Two years ago right wing propagandists had to be crafty when pushing this agenda. They had to use terms like Critical Race Theory to make these programs seem evil. Now they donβt have to hide it anymore. They can openly challenge the ideas of diversity, equity and inclusion. Theyβve convinced people that these ideas are the real racism. Their messaging has been extremely effective and now they are getting their laws passed. This is what fascism looks like.
CisHet white conservatives are terrified of losing their position of supremacy. Theyβll do whatever they can to keep everyone else down to maintain the status quo.
And the foreign students, who pay the most money, will go elsewhere. I hope the Utah students who are left to make up that money enjoy their larger student loans…
The SLC Redevelopment Agency is a for profit business unit of City government. I have sat on the Advisory Panel for several years. DEI is mentioned in the charter and governing documents in mission statements and strategies. I don’t see this changing and there is very little that the legislature can do about it. The only way this city will grow and prosper is to make sure all of it grows and prospers. It means that investments in less well to do neighborhoods will create a path toward generational wealth, lift populations out of poverty and build a tax base.
I don’t understand how GOPers can’t understand that a rising tide raises all the ships in the harbor.
City government has been openly at odds with the LDS owned state legislature for decades. As the blue stain has grown, the faithful have become alarmed. They are losing their cherished Deseret to inbound migration and young people leaving the church. Only 42% of residents identify as LDS, the church would have you believe that number is over 70%. They lie to us but they also lie to themselves.
Millennials and Gen Z LDS seem to be following the same national pattern that other organized religions are facing. They are just doing it a bit later than their contemporaries. Much of this is due to family pressure and the complete isolation that happens when a young person leaves the church. Often they lose everything. That’s why we see more LDS youth breaking away in their mid 20s. Here’s a good piece from the SLC Trib. Enjoy.
They have also passed a bathroom bill for government buildings which will require trans people use the bathroom of the gender assigned at birth until “fully transitioned” and changed on ID.
How and who will police this is unknown. It sounds like a violation of people’s medical privacy on its face.
Yes, those diversity statements areΒ evil. The nerve of being forced to act Christ-like. The horror of following the Golden Rule must be stomped out in the name of Murican Freedumb. Fucking Nazi trash.
Understand this is about indoctrination and preventing social acceptance.Β Where do kids encounter their most diverse and accepting environment, yes watching social media influencers who are openly different, LGBTQIA / or supporting of, and display rainbow flags and talk about how grand diversity and inclusion is?Β Β That leads kids to understand the truth, it is OK to be different.Β Young people’s programming on media starts with cartoons, and animated shows, and moves online.Β Β Why do you think the right / DeathSantis went after Disney so hard also why the hard rabid right Daily Wire started all their own kids programming with hard right indoctrination?Β It is why states like Florida approved using Prager U YouTube videos in public schools.Β It is all about getting to the kids when they are young and developing so they can be indoctrinated in a regressive fundamentalist Christian right wing philosophy.Β Also to prevent the Taylor Swift phenomenon from happening.Β Β Hugs.Β Scottie.
Ever wonder why left leaning stars are so popular they can sway large majorities of the public, but the right wing stars are so much less able to do it, especially individually?Β Β Because the idea, policies, and goals of the repressive right are unpopular with the majority.Β Β They want minority rule.Β Β
Β
βGive me a child until he is 7 and I will show you the man.β
The Florida House of Representatives has passed two bills banning social media for minors under age 16 and requiring age verification for pornographic sites, just two weeks into their 2024 legislative session.
With House approval, the bills will now head to the state Senate before making its way to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantisβs desk. If the governor signs both bills, they will likely go into effect in July, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.
The measure does not include which social media platforms will be banned for users under 16. State House Speaker Paul Renner, R, said the bill doesnβt focus on content, but on βaddictive technologiesβ and βthe courts will decideβ what those are.
Read theΒ full article. As I reported earlier this month, the social media ban isΒ authored byΒ freshman Rep. Fiona McFarland. Republicans hold supermajorities in both Florida chambers and can therefore force pretty much anything they want into law.
RELATED:Β McFarlandβs mother, K.T. McFarland, served as Trumpβs Deputy National Security Advisor under Michael Flynn andΒ she was accusedΒ by Robert Mueller of complicity in Flynnβs lies to the FBI. The accusations scuttled the elder McFarlandβs nomination by Trump to be US ambassador to Singapore.
ONE STEP CLOSER: Florida bill meant to ban minors from having social media accounts has passed. What it could mean for teens across the state π± https://t.co/yQWLF7oSPR
The measure does not include which social media platforms will be banned for users under 16. State House Speaker Paul Renner, R, said the bill doesn’t focus on content, but on “addictive technologies” and βthe courts will decide” what those are.
I thought the exact same thing. Then I was going to say it sounds like they’d probably put the onus on Social Media sites to follow the law, but the point would remain the same: Enforcement is going to be a bitch.
I hope social media co.s do what pornhub did and just make their sites unavailable in that state (although I could see how that could have a negative impact on the kids who count on it for social support and stuff).
This is known as the foot in the door bill / law.Β Once this gets passed, then the next year a bill / law is introduced to add more right wing groups.Β Notice parents are not to be notified and from what I read students can not opt out, which totally wipes out parents rights.Β Think on it, any parent can keep an entire school from reading a book with LGBTQIA characters, but no parent can keep their child from right wing indoctrination in public schools.Β Β Just mull over what groups the new approved list might include?Β The local mega / hate church?Β The RNC?Β All military branches, which I think most schools allow but students need permission from parents, that permission no longer required.Β Β However written into the law is not available to other groups, such as left leaning or science groups.Β No Satanic Temple for science stuff, no equality groups, no pro abortion groups, no other religion but the “good” one Christianity, right?Β By law, only right wing indoctrination 1950s society groups may have this right to brainwash kids without the parents being told.Β Let the public reeducation camps begin with public schools.Β Β They will wipe all that progressive modern acceptance and tolerance shit out for good, right?Β Β Hugs.Β Scottie
The House Choice and Innovation Subcommittee is advancing a bill that would give some groups certain rights in K-12 schools.
Rep. Wyman Dugganβs bill (HB 1317) would allow representatives of so-called βpatriotic organizationsβ time to meet with students and distribute recruitment materials, with schools providing designated time for these groups to pitch their attendees.
The bill also clarifies that certain groups can use school buildings even after the instructional day is over, and stipulates that other groups donβt have the legal right to βequal time.β
Where are the Cubans who scream about the dangers of Castro and forced government stuff at on this? Oh wait, they’re fine if it’s people they like doing it. Biggest bunch of hypocrites around.
Heney I live in the hood with them.. Its fuck biden flags and bumper stickers all over the place . The show their hatred for freedom and the constitution everytime they scream for trump
Nations – and the citizens that come from them – who have never tasted a history of being a democratic republic really don’t understand how it’s done. I think we’ve got plenty of migration around the world now to recognize that.
Sadly, we’re witnessing how easy it is for even a nation like ours – WITH said history – to easily lose it once history is no longer considered an important topic in classrooms. No wonder MAGAts hate an educated population.
Castroβs revolution was against the semi-fascist regime of Fulgencio Bautista (who eventually took refuge in exile with Franco!). The original people who fled Castro were allied with / members of / happy under a semi-fascist regime.
It is entirely on brand for them to support Trump.
Yep. Let’s see – Catholic Priest Altar Boy Appreciation Society – check! Hitler youth – check, check! Baptist Attractive Young Male Interns International Pimpery – check, check, checkity-check!
The Girl Scouts are on the conservative S-list. They donβt kick out lesbians and trans girls. They teach girls skills that help them become successful as independent women holding good jobs. They may teach health that includes accurate information about their genitalia and those of men.
I will not be surprised to see the FL legislature and governor coming up with aΒ State of FloridaΒ designation of βpatriotic and national organizationsβ to include many favored groups.
The bill also clarifies that certain groups can use school buildings even after the instructional day is over, and stipulates that other groups donβt have the legal right to βequal time.β
Β
I like when they include clearly unconstitutional poisoned pills into their legislation.
Children can’t read or do arithmetic, don’t understand civics, but let’s take time out of the day and do this and sing the National Anthem. What fucking morons.
The bill also clarifies that certain groups can use school buildings even after the instructional day is over, and stipulates thatΒ other groups donβt have the legal right to βequal time.β
The way Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) won the right to meet in schools is through the federal Equal Access Act (EAA) of 1984. Any school that permits non-curriculum related student groups must provide equal access to all student groups, and that includes equal access for GSAs. I’m no lawyer, but I wonder if this law can be used in this way.
Photo: Shutterstock
