A week ago, we did a post on Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pushing back on a reporter who was asking him about the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. DeSantis interrupted the reporter a few times to slip in details that had gotten lost, such as that the Parental Rights in Education bill’s prohibition of teachers leading class discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity applied only to kindergarten through third-grade classrooms. We’ve seen some crazy takes on the bill, such as that not talking to kindergarteners about sexual orientation will lead to the next Pulse nightclub shooting. We believe the onus is on those opposing the bill to tell us why it’s so important to lead kindergarten discussions about gender identity. Do you really think you need to indoctrinate kids that early to stop “hate”?
He’s a little late to the party, but United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has come out against the bill, and much like the reporter mentioned above, completely skips over the fact that we’re talking about elementary school here.
Florida's recent law restricting discussion about gender identity in school has understandably raised serious concerns. The law concerns me too. Let me explain why: 1/4
— Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) March 14, 2022
Learning that people are different and that not all families look the same—these are important lessons that start early in life, including in school. They help create a society based on understanding and respect. They help children know they belong even if they are different. 2/4
— Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) March 14, 2022
Why does this lesson have to be taught in public school to third-graders? Is little Tommy getting beat up because he has two dads?
I grew up in Florida and am a proud graduate of the public school system. As a kid who often felt I didn’t belong, it helped tremendously when teachers openly discussed our different backgrounds. This built understanding and reduced shame. 3/4
— Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) March 14, 2022
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LGBTQ+ youth also deserve such proactive support. Preventing or criminalizing efforts to foster such understanding hurts kids & families. It shuts down dialogue instead of nurturing healthy conversation. And it sends a signal to LGBTQ+ youth that they are not fully accepted. 4/4
— Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) March 14, 2022
How many LGBTQ+ children do you find in the average kindergarten? Kids that age probably just assume — shocker! — that there are two genders, boys and girls.
Parents can discuss sexuality with their young children if they desire. It's inappropriate for teachers to broach the subject with them.
It should be noted that speaking about heterosexuality would also be prohibited. No sexualities are singled out.
— Mark Cancellieri (@MarkCancellieri) March 14, 2022
People like you keep oh-so-conveniently leaving out that the bill is specifically about teaching gender ideology to PRE-K THROUGH 3RD GRADERS.
— BRCooper⚡🔋🚀💫 (@_BRCooper) March 14, 2022
Tell me you didn’t read it without tell me you didn’t read it.
— Awesome The Unclean ⭐️ (@TCA_Reviews) March 14, 2022
3rd grade and younger….. come on man
— Christopher (@ilcbm19) March 14, 2022
Lots of words. Did you read the bill? Or just enjoy typing.
— Rick Smol (@RickSmol) March 14, 2022
Conversations such as this should NOT be had with this age group unless a parent makes that decision. Teachers should focus on teaching this age basic reading, writing, math, social skills.
— T 🇺🇸🇺🇸 (@geaux8615) March 14, 2022
So you, the US Surgeon General, are saying your position is that it is acceptable and age appropriate to teach kids about sex in Pre-K through third grade? Is that what you are saying?
— The Masked Merkin 🐊🚚🚛 (@hobbes16) March 14, 2022
Why are you being conspicuously vocal about sexualizing kindergarteners?
— shortround (@bikemike556) March 14, 2022
You obviously didn't bother to read the bill. It's for children K-3rd grade. Sorry but children at that age need to be taught the alphabet, words, colors, how to read, etc. not about gender identity. Stop trying to mess with impressionable young minds before they've developed.
— Elia 🇺🇸 (@EliaLucaze) March 14, 2022
In the amount of time it took you to write this drivel, you could have read the bill.
— Jeff Blakley (@JeffBlakley2) March 14, 2022
It’s only seven pages.
Related:
‘RIP to the reporter Ron DeSantis just murdered’: Governor pushes back against what ‘critics’ call the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill https://t.co/rGlew5hUbq
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 8, 2022
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