Exclusive: Rep. Carlos G. Smith says ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill is “a very personal attack” on LGBTQ+ people
“Politicians are less inclined to enact legislation that discriminates or targets the LGBTQ community when we are amongst them, when we are their colleagues, when we are their siblings, their children, their neighbours and their co-workers, being out and being authentic about who we are,” says Rep.
Carlos Guillermo Smith. In November 2016, the 41-year-old made history as the first openly LGBTQ+ Latin person elected to the Florida Legislature.
Since then, the Democrat has used his position in the state’s House of Representatives to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights – which most recently has been an uphill battle against the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill.
The legislation, which is officially called the Parental Rights in Education bill, seeks to restrict “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in primary schools. “We call it the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill because it prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity for certain grade levels, which, you know, sends a really terrible message that conversations about LGBTQ people are somehow inappropriate or even dangerous to be had in front of our young people,” Smith tells GAY TIMES.
