Republicans introduce ‘Don’t Say Trans’ bill to stop schools ‘promoting transgenderism’
Schools have been told they should not ‘promote transgenderism’ (stock image, Getty)
In a concerning move on Wednesday morning (25 February), House Republicans introduced HR 7661, a sweeping federal bill that seeks to censor the existence of transgender individuals in public schools nationwide.
Introduced hours after Trump’s State of The Union address – in which he took aim at schools “secretly socially transitioning” trans kids – the bill would ban all federally funded K-12 schools from “developing, implementing, facilitating, hosting, or promoting anything” that “includes sexually oriented material”, with “sexually oriented material” being defined to include anything “involving gender dysphoria or transgenderism”.
Dubbed the ‘Don’t Say Trans’ bill due to its similarities to Florida’s 2022 ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law, this measure wouldn’t just affect lessons in class that would mention trans people, such as sex education programs, but also extends to prohibiting related educational materials and support groups.
This could include books mentioning trans people and any school clubs, like GSAs or support groups, that discuss trans people.
Additionally, due to the bill’s vague language, it may also force trans teachers into the closet and prevent schools from affirming trans kids’ identities out of fear of retribution.
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