Florida lawmakers and DOE pushing alternate expansions of LGBTQ curriculum ban

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Department of Education and the Florida Legislature seem to have two different plans when it comes to limiting classroom instruction on LGBTQ issues in higher grade levels.

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A new rule proposed by the Florida Department of Education states in-part educators, “Shall not intentionally provide classroom instruction to students in grades 4 through 12 on sexual orientation or gender identity unless such instruction is either expressly required by state academic standards… or is part of a reproductive health course or health lesson.”

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Former State Representative Carlos Guillermo Smith with Equality Florida sees it as a back door attempt to expand the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill to all grade levels.

“They think that including LGBTQ people as a healthy and normal part of our society, which is what we are, in the classroom is not appropriate and that sends a really dangerous message,” Smith said.

The rule comes as a bill speeding through the Florida Legislature seeks to expand the current ban from grades K-3 to PreK-8th grade.

When asked why DOE seemed to be pushing further than lawmakers, Education Commissioner Manny Diaz said the proposed rule intends to clarify state standards.

Read: School library book bans are seen as targeting LGBTQ content

“These standards don’t incorporate gender ideology or any of these theories in math, social studies, reading or anything else. We preserve the health standards and that provides for teachers, makes it clear what it is because there were a lot of questions about ‘age appropriate’. Well, this clarifies it for everyone,” Diaz said.

But Smith argued the rule still fails to clarify exactly what constitutes classroom instruction.

“Whether it’s standing in front of a class obviously instructing curriculum, or if it’s just having every day conversations that include all different types of families, including families that look like mine,” Smith said.

While the DOE rule isn’t scheduled for a vote before the Florida Board of Education until April 19th, it’s likely the legislature’s bill will clear the finish line even sooner.

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It has just one more committee stop in the Senate and is ready for a vote on the House floor.