What we lose with dont say gay

At a time when anti-LGBTQ+ legislation is on the rise in more than a dozen states across the United States, social work providers and researchers must be acutely aware of the ways in which their practice may unintentionally invalidate the identities.

LGBTQ Americans Acceptance Identity

In that moment, Wilson cried and confided to his teacher, even if it meant being late to Spanish class. And, in some cases, find other gender-questioning peers at school to talk to. The “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” law had an immediate chilling effect.

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Because of her inclusive curriculum, Ellsworth said her non-binary and non-conforming students feel comfortable opening up to her. A measure like the one moving through the Florida Legislature could have a devastating effect on the mental health of LGBTQ students in the state, he said.

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Become a member and be part of the work that matters. By providing much-needed clarity, this settlement represents a major victory for the many thousands of LGBTQ+ students, teachers, parents, and their allies throughout Florida,” said Lead Counsel Roberta Kaplan.

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Having at least one adult with whom to share your identity is the No. If passed, the bill would create an environment where teachers fear repercussions for a curriculum that includes historical moments for transgender rights or an important historical figure who happened to be LGBTQ.

So often, a teacher or school counselor is the first person or at least the first adult a child comes out to. Growing up and knowing he was gay in the s, David said, he would have really benefited from a safe space at school. HuffPost turns reader contributions into real-world impact — uncovering injustice, challenging power, and inspiring change.

In her classroom, Ellsworth tries to teach her students to accept their peers and encourages open discussion to learn more about one another. For J Wilson, a college journalism student in North Texas, it was a school choir director whom he felt safe enough to come out to in seventh grade.

Whether proponents of the bill want to acknowledge it or not, school has always been as much about socialization as it is learning, said David, a 12th grade teacher in the Tampa Bay area of Florida who asked to use his first name only to protect his privacy.

Historic Settlement Achieved in

Teachers we spoke to worry that a measure like the one proposed in Florida could punish them for simply acknowledging that gay people exist. I just felt like I had this huge secret that no adult that I trusted had heard, and it felt like the dam was broken.

Already contributed? It purported to restrict “classroom instruction” on sexual orientation or gender identity. Florida passes controversial 'Don’t Say Gay' bill The Parental Rights in Education Bill includes a ban on lessons regarding "sexual orientation or gender identity" for students grades K A settlement has been reached that rolls back part of Florida's so-called "don't say gay" law, which bans instruction on gender identity.

Madison Ellsworth, a middle school English teacher in Virginia, said she knows this firsthand. "For nearly two years, Florida’s notorious ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law has spawned a disturbing wave of fear, anxiety, and confusion.