Senator Taddeo Announces Her Opposition To ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill

Tallahassee —

Senator Annette Taddeo today commented on SB 1834 Parental Rights in Education Bill. This bill is just another example of the culture wars the GOP have been waging under the guise of parental freedom. SB 1834 would ban discussions surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity in our schools. Research has suggested that LGBTQ youth are more at risk for bullying and are more likely to suffer added stress and anxiety surrounding their identity. This is a community that needs more support – not more stigmatization.

Senator Taddeo had this to say:

“In the so-called “Freest” state in the nation, the Governor and his radical allies are proposing a law that flagrantly violates the First Amendment to the constitution. This is an extreme example of political and government censorship. On a moral level, this bill is wrong as it suggests that there is something shameful about LGBTQ people and their families. Instead of working on the high rate of suicide rates amongst LGBTQ youth, this bill will isolate and stigmatize children in the classroom and in their school lives. LGBTQ students already do not receive enough support in schools and this bill will only lead to more anxiety, fear, isolation, and depression. It is truly grotesque that the Governor’s pandering to the voters of Iowa is going to cause such devastation to some of our most vulnerable youth.”