This week, Rep. Joe Harding proposed an amendment to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill that would force teachers to out their students by notifying parents within six weeks of learning about their child’s LGBTQ identity.
After introducing the draconian amendment on Monday, Harding withdrew it on Tuesday, following heavy pushback from Democrats, LGBTQ advocates, and people with basic common decency who don’t want to see children potentially put in danger.
In a video posted to Twitter earlier this month, Harding defended the homophobic bill he co-sponsored as a way to “empower parents” and keep kids from talking about sexual orientation.
The president and his team decided to distort the truth and outright lie about my bill that empowers parents. Here is my response. ?@POTUS? ?@PressSec? pic.twitter.com/Huo0RNNxBE
— Joe Harding (@josephbharding) February 9, 2022
Now, PR professional Michael Volpatt has put his expert communications skills to good use by creating a website called the “Joe Harding Gay Resource Page” to push back against Harding’s homophobia.
How about we take this to the next level?
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“I’m sickened by this bill and what it will do to kids and the people that support them,” Volpatt tells Queerty.
The site includes links to the Trevor Project and Lambda Legal. There is also a link to news stories about Harding and the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, and a letter to Florida lawmakers that people can sign and submit through Equality Florida’s website.
The site also has a message for visitors that reads: “Remember always that no matter who you are or whom you love, you are special. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
The “Don’t Say Gay” bill was approved by a vote of 69-47 in the Florida House of Representatives. It will now advance to the Florida Senate. Governor Ron DeSantis has already indicated his support for the legislation.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
gregg2010
As a high school teacher I have enough work to do without concerning myself with the sexuality of my students. In a 55 minute period it just doesn’t come up.
Cam
It would if they’re being attacked or harassed in your class. If a student was beaten up and they told you it was because they were gay, his bill would say you legally had to out that kid to their parents even if the parents were abusive bigots.
startenout
As a middle school chorus teacher it comes up when they feel comfortable talking to you about things that are truly important to them. In a 40 minute period with 3 minutes for a change of class, I’ve had students ask me for advice on how to come out to their father. If you don’t have time to truly know them, then that’s some bad teaching.
MarcyMayer
Cam:
“…his bill would say you legally had to out that kid to their parents even if the parents were abusive bigots.”
Harding withdrew the amendment which would have implemented that. Didn’t you read this article which states:
“This week, Rep. Joe Harding proposed an amendment to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill that would force teachers to out their students by notifying parents within six weeks of learning about their child’s LGBTQ identity… After introducing the draconian amendment on Monday, Harding withdrew it on Tuesday…”
Brian
You’re blind. Sexual orientation is a near constant topic in elementary school. Every time a teacher introduces herself as, “Mrs. Smith,” she is telling children that she is heterosexual. She has a photo of her husband and kids on her desk. She speaks about George Washington abd his wife Martha. She speaks about Joe Biden and his wife Jill. Straight people announce their straightness daily, and we acceptit as routine. This law is meant to specifically silence gay and lesbian people only. This law has nothing to do with sex. It’s just bigotry.
LunaSol2010
What about kids being severely bullied and beaten up by other classmates to the point of humiliation and cruelty showing on their bodys, clothing and traumatized faces?
I was victimized every morning 3/5 school days where I later learned my neigjbour was charging $1 to kids to beat me as a fag even though he was the youth I was having sex with?
When I learned much later I found him propositioning a minor for sex and turned him in as a pedophile getting full support by the young boys family in court.
His 2 brothers, lawyers, got him off as innocent as I was nothing but a disgruntled bad tempered neurotic neighbour when I lived across the street.
The things teachers miss!one of the two lawyers set up a 3 man group of 21 year olds to gang rape me and tie me up in the basement on a request by the younger 10 year old brother, mh ‘bf/playmate.
I sued and one $1 in court 18 years after the event and had the lawyer neighbour debared as a sex offender from the provincial legal board that revoked his license to practice law. He appealed. Won. And was debared 3 years later for jury tampering and perjury.
Because our parents cannot see these violent events objectively it is teachers that have empathy who sit down with child obviously suffering PTSD to find out what’s going on. Why are they struggling in class? What has happened? Are they afraid of anyone in the school hurting term?
Bu grade 11 … I walked out before finals, jumped on a cruise ship to Alaska to run away for two years. Got therapy in the off season. And learned to forgive the people in my life that did not care or have time or desire to help me finish school or survey 3 suicide attempts by grade 10.
Thank you for being too busy … you must help a lot of students!
Cam
@MarcyMayer
1. We were discussion his amendment.
2. That doesn’t change the fact that the rest of the Bill makes it illegal to mention LGBTQ people exist.
Cam
@MarcyMayer
Oh, one other thing, this screename was already exposed as another screename of @SamB, @BarryM, etc..
You were on another thread attacking Ukraine and defending Putin.
Please tell your manager at the troll farm to send smarter trolls.
GayEGO
Ho hum, this weasel needs to be prosecuted for his hate crime!
Godabed
The gaydar is going off…
BDAguy
The website is brilliant! At the end of the day one has to wonder how are states actually governed and administered when governors and legislators are so consumed and obsessed by trans and lgbtq topics? I guess it speaks very well for the “deep state” of bureaucrats and civil servants that continues to ensure the basic services continue, schools are open, roads are paved, etc b/c its stunning how little time the politicians devote to governance and public administration. If I could ask just one question of DeSantis, Harding, Abbot, et al: what are you so afraid of?
Mack
They’re pandering to the Scamvangelists. They’re so desperate for votes they’ll do anything to appease the Franklin Graham, Tony Perkins, and the rest of the hate organizations.
gregg2010
It’s a “solution” looking for a problem—that doesn’t exist.
Peter
Exactly. Like everyone I know who graduated from third and went onto fourth grade, nobody ever brought up the topic nor was it discussed. On the rarest of occasions some child does bring it up, the other kids wouldn’t understand and the teacher could easily control the dialogue. What an asshole this guy is; apparently he has nothing better to do. Vote him out, Florida.
Cam
And maybe it wasn’t brought up because of bigotry.
Lots of little kids get crushes or talk about marrying each other, interesting that the LGBTQ kids never speak up isn’t it?
trojanboy
In the UK this would be a hate crime
whereshouldistart
How much wart removal cream and PreperationH would it take to just make Florida disappear?
Keith
He’s taking us back to what it was like when I was a child. Back in the early 70’s I was picked on as early as kindergarten by kids, mostly boys, because I wasn’t like the other boys. I was quiet, loved to read and generally preferred the interests of the girls. I was called f*g & variations of the concept. I didn’t know the words but I knew the sentiment behind them. I was picked on in front of teachers and staff. They never came to my aid because they weren’t allowed to discuss those words or the meaning of the treatment I received. Saying something to my parents was unthinkable. My father would have picked up where the kids left off and some. Beatings because I was considered too fem to be his son were common. I attempted suicide multiple times before I was even eight years old. Why are we going backwards? I fear for the lives of todays children.
Jaquelope
Since most of what is taught to children of that age group is the heteronormative type (male + female couple with children), that would mean that sexual orientation WOULD be discussed, which would be a violation of the entire bill. If it does pass the Florida Senate, and get signed into law, it needs to be met with lawsuits seeking banning the discussion of those types of families and that type of sexual orientation.
jt1990
I liked the way Florida’s govt handled the bat flu “crisis” – but I don’t understand their position on this one?
Unless maybe the student reports feeling suicidal about it. The kid might even be sent to a religious “straight camp” to be molested by closeted priests trying to “help” them.
KyleMichelSullivan
I’m sorry, but I’m finally at the point of, is you can’t kick bastards like this out of power, just get the hell out of the state. I know it’s a disruption, but Republicans are turning places like Florida, Texas and Arizona into hellholes, and if you stick around it’s just going to wind up destroying you.
white-queer-african
My comments are now being constantly “moderated” by Queerty! Where is the free speech u refer to SamB?
scotty
sound slike he spews forth santorum from the mouth. these holier than everyone else homo haters can leave when their so called rapture arrives. til then i think we’re stuck with them.
Invader7
The republithug sickos are everywhere…