Meet Joe Harding.
He’s the Florida State Representative who proposed an amendment to the state’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, LGTBQ 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 as a way to “empower parents” and keep kids from talking about sexual orientation.
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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
So, what else do we know about this asshole (aside from the fact that he’s a raging homophobe, that is)?
Well, prior to being elected to the Florida House of Representatives in November 2020, the 34-year-old married father of four was a college dropout who worked in construction. Nothing wrong with either of those things, of course, but it’s a shame he didn’t finish his education because it might have helped open his mind a little more.
According to iVoterGuide, in addition to hating LGBTQ people, Harding is a huge supporter of homophobic “religious freedom” laws and believes separation of church and State means, in his words, “the State staying out of the church’s business and not the other way around.”
He also opposes same-sex marriage, going so far as to say marriage should be legally defined as “between one man and one woman”, and he doesn’t believe sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression should be included as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
“I am a born again Christian and my faith lays the foundation for the decisions I make,” he’s reported as saying. “I believe right and wrong is defined by the bible. God’s word is a wealth of wisdom and answers to all of our current issues can be found in his word!”
Florida House Republicans voted to advance the “Don’t Say Gay” bill on Tuesday. It is now set for a final vote in the House later today. Only one Republican, Rep. Chip LaMarca, plans to vote against it.
LaMarca’s district lies in Broward County, the second-most populous county in the state with a very large LGBTQ population. Unfortunately, Republicans have 78 votes in the Florida House, compared to Democrats, who have just 41, so the loss of LaMarca’s support will likely have no impact on whether the bill passes.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Mister P
What this idiot doesn’t understand is that there is no god and all his bullshit is made up to hurt people.
whereshouldistart
Yup.
Chrisk
“I believe right and wrong is defined by the bible.
You mean like murdering unruly kids or adulterers or just how to beat your slaves best?
I love how he wants to come off as just a concerned parent that takes no stand on it other then protecting his children. Yeah, right ya loony bigot. Guaranteed it won’t stop at just kindergarten.
jcool
can’t wait until one of his kids comes out
Kangol2
I know some people love to blame Black people for all this country’s homophobia, etc., but yet again here you have a White right-wing religious fanatic who not only supports this hateful, anti-gay, anti-LGBTQ “Don’t Say Gay” bill, but actually wanted to force schools to out vulnerable LGBTQ children to their parents, potentially putting some of them in grave danger, and introduced it into legislation before he receive pushback from Democrats and LGBTQ groups.
The overall legislation is still very damaging and dangerous to LGBTQ youth and should be voted down immediately, but the GOP in Florida are hell bent on ramming it through. As ChrisK points out, there are any number of admonitions in the Bible that fanatics like this creep and the GOP Christianists don’t follow, including many from Christ Himself, like, you should not mistreat strangers (i.e., immigrants, whatever their status), those without food or homes, those who are imprisoned, etc. And more pedestrian ones from the Old Testament condemning mixing fabrics, eating certain foods, etc. Of course they are cafeteria Chistianists, picking certain things to fixate on while ignoring others, including the actual revealed words of Christ. They are hatemongers, no matter how much they try to gussy things up.
JClark
I’ve never thought of blaming homophobia on Black people, but I do associate it with Christian wingnuts like this guy no matter what race.
Polaro
I love the commercial with Larry David screaming about letting stupid people vote. We also let stupid people run for office, and they often win these days. As stupid as this guy is, with his superstitions derived from the Bible, there is an equally stupid movement on the left fueling his mania and campaign.
Some schools and teachers (a small minority) have overstepped their jobs an interfered in areas they should not. Supporting and accepting all your students is not the same as actively encouraging a nine year old that they are non-binary. Also, any attempt to deny the responsibility and right of parents to make choices for their children is wrong. So, that’s how we get people like Harding. This issue did not come out of nowhere. The repercussion is chilling for older children who are actually growing up and making choices about who they are. These bills are bad for us, but it’s the blow back I continually warn you all about when the nutty left pushes too far.
Flame on, I won’t be reading it. You are exactly the people who I’m talking about.
LeBlevsez
In your ideal world, any attempt to deny the rights of parents to make choices for their children is wrong. So 7-year old Timmy shows up to school with bruises, no heads-up from the parents, and Teacher stays mum, lest they lose their job. But 7-year old Timmy puts a barrette in his hair, and Teacher has to push the panic button, or they lose their job. Hmm.
Now, I know you will circle back, regardless of your assertion to the contrary. The need to own us flamers it too great. Please take this sweet bait. Or cower before the candle.
Fname Optional Lname
Acknowledging that non binary is a thing to a child who feels like a freak because Mom and Dad don’t believe in can alter the course of that ‘s child’s life. Giving children the knowledge that there are different people in this world will not harm them. Teachers will not be bringing in hormone injections.
Cam
Republicans hate LGBTQ people and pass laws to attack us. Same as they’re doing with minority voting rights and women’s health.
Mack
The Republicans are following in Putin’s and Russia’s footsteps. They should change their name to Russia United Party, it suits them more.
James
ANOTHER SICK NEO NAZI LOSER FROM THE TRUMP FREAKS.
THAT Steve
If they’d just follow the New Testament like they’re supposed to (Jesus being the fulfillment of The Law and all) there wouldn’t be half these problems. The NT does not condemn homosexuality. They’d have to accept God into their hearts to do so and they’re clearly unwilling to do that.
GayVeteranOfcr
This law, like it or not, now provides a path toward expanding LGBTQ education at schools.
Place the choice explicitly in the hands of parents.
Inform the parents that this law provides parents with the authority to decide whether or not their child should be taught about sexuality, and that any parent who signs a permission form that indicates the parent has been informed of the optional education and if the parent agrees by signature that their child will be one of those students who are offered the optional series of education, then the school can offer the authorized students the optional education. Children will talk, of course. Word will go around. Perhaps more students’ parents will formally authorize their children to receive the optional classes. This is, admittedly, an end-around circumvention of the stated intent of the law, but in respect to empowering parents, it is very much within the letter of the law, so exploit the law and accept that the law can offer new ways to expand LGBTQ education in schools in ways that adhere to the Florida law in every way. A parent cannot object if their child is not taking the class, because it was their sole choice whether to have their children take the class, so no standing to object if other parents allow their children to get the special education. All is not lost if one exploits the law in ways that are entirely legal but that were never contemplated by the law’s authors. That is a common failing of legislators.
Asher
I guarantee you that dude is gay. My gadyar is dinging like the alarm bell at a fire station. He might want to get right with himself and stop lying to his family and the world. There is science behind people picking up on what is called “gay face”, and that there is such a thing as a gaydar. In a way I feel sorry for him.
Joshua333
Why do all Republican Reps sound like incels?
inbama
I wish to hell this weren’t happening, and I hate to say it, but I told you so.
But just keep listening to Scam and calling LGB dissidents “trolls” instead of reading information from a wider variety of sources that might tell you what’s going on in our name and why parents are alarmed.
It’s going to be a very bumpy ride.