Miami Dade school board rejects LGBTQ history month over fears it violates ‘Don’t Say Gay’
politico.comThe board member who introduced the proposal recognizing October as LGBTQ history month, Lucia Baez-Geller, claimed Wednesday that a “symbolic gesture” was hijacked by “ugly falsities” and “just plain disinformation.” | Wilfredo Lee/AP Photo By Andrew Atterbury 09/07/2022 10:44 PM EDT Link CopiedTALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The Miami Dade School Board on Wednesday night struck down a proposal that would have recognized October as “LGBTQ history month” out of concern that it would violate the state’s Parental Rights in Education law, known by opponents as “Don’t Say Gay.”Miami school board members passed a similar resolution acknowledging LGBTQ history month in 2021 by a 7-1 vote but found themselves in a different situation this fall under the Parental Rights in Education law.
The Republican-led Legislature approved the law in March and it continues to affect how Florida schools address issues of sexual orientation and gender identity.Although the board’s own attorney said the recognition was on a solid legal footing, board members voted 1-8 against the idea after dozens of parents and community members raised their opposition at a marathon meeting.“I do believe this is in direct violation of our parental rights bill,” said board member Christi Fraga, who voted against the measure. “If not so directly, in spirit, it is.
Because this is saying a full endorsement in the entire district of this month — that includes kindergarten through 12th grade.”Aside from recognizing October as LGBTQ history month, the proposal was tweaked this year to explore the possibility of providing resources for teachers in 12th-grade social studies to teach about “important landmark civil rights” cases.
