State representatives in Pennsylvania have introduced a more restrictive version of Florida’s highly-criticised ‘Don’t Say Gay‘ law.
The bill was spearheaded by Republican Stephanie Borowicz, who is the lead sponsor on the legislation. At a rally in Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, Borowicz said: “It is patterned after the Florida bill, but mine goes further,” according to PennLive Patriot News.
The bill, currently titied House Bill 2813, would mean that public and charter schools “may not offer instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity to a student in kindergarten through fifth grade.” Florida’s version of the law went into effect this year, bans the same topics from being taught up to the third grade.
Any lessons taking place in higher grades will be checked to be age-appropriate. Cases of anti-LGBTQ+ hate online rose 400% following the passing of the bill.