WLRN
By Regan McCarthy with WFSU
2/16/23
Teachers will be limited to using only the pronouns that correspond with their students’ sex assigned at birth under a bill moving through the Florida legislature. The measure is an expansion of the so called “Don’t Say Gay” bill lawmakers passed last year.
Rep. Adam Anderson (R-Tarpon Springs) said his bill is about protecting the rights of parents. He said he’s heard from parents who are concerned about how gender identity is discussed in their kid’s classrooms.
But during a committee hearing on the bill lawmakers questioned which parents’ rights would be protected. Rep. Susan Valdes (D-Tampa) asked the bill sponsor what happens if a parent wants their child to use a specific pronoun.
“If a student and a parent voluntarily provide to a teacher that this is the pronoun that they would like to be referred to, can the teacher use the pronoun if the teacher chooses to do so and respect that parent’s request,” Valdes asked.