The House Education Committee approves legislation that prohibits teachers from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity in K-through-12 public classrooms. Haughton Representative Dodie Horton believes these topics should discussed at home, not in the classroom…
“What a parent teaches their children at home concerning these topics is according to their own ideals and their own morals. Our classrooms are not for this.”
A former substitute teacher who lives in Mandeville traveled to Baton Rouge to voice her opposition to the legislation. She describes herself as a heterosexual who sees this type of legislation as mean spirited…
“These culture war bills are getting very tiresome. I’m just going to say. I’m going to be 60 tomorrow and I’ve lived all 60 years in this God-forsaken state. And I’m tired of it. This is why people are leaving this state.”
Despite the opposition, Horton’s bill was approved on a nine to three vote. She reminded the committee her legislation would allow for discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity, if the parent said it is okay…
“It doesn’t stop a child from going to the teacher for help but you have to have parental knowledge of the conversation.”
Last year. the Legislature approved this bill, which has been referred to as Louisiana’s version of the Don’t Say Gay Bill. Then Governor John Bel Edwards vetoed it.
