A Florida elementary school teacher is under investigation by the state Department of Education after she showed her fifth-grade students a Disney movie featuring an openly gay character. Jenna Barbee, the teacher, believes the investigation is an example of discrimination against the LGBTQ community. She said she showed the movie as a “brain break” in between students’ standardized testing and that she had no intention of offending anyone. The state Department of Education has not yet commented on the investigation.
Posts tagged as “LGBTQ”
Montana is currently debating three bills concerning transgender and LGBTQ rights, which have been met with criticism from the Governor's son, David Gianforte, who identifies as nonbinary. The bills would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, drag performances in public places, and allow businesses to refuse services to LGBTQ individuals. Governor Gianforte has yet to make a decision on whether or not to veto the bills, but his son is making a strong case for the LGBTQ community.
The Walt Disney Company has filed a lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, accusing him of engaging in a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" after Disney publicly opposed a state law. DeSantis responded to the lawsuit, calling it politically motivated and saying it was time for Disney to stop enjoying favorable treatment. The lawsuit is in response to DeSantis' appointment of a board of supervisors in Disney's self-governed theme park district, and is the latest development in the ongoing feud between the two.
The Montana House of Representatives voted to censure Democratic state Rep. Zooey Zephyr, the state's first transgender lawmaker, after she spoke out against proposed legislation that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The censure bars Zephyr from the floor for the remainder of the legislative session, but she has vowed to continue to fight for the rights of transgender people in Montana. The proposed legislation, which has been widely criticized by LGBTQ rights groups, would make it illegal for doctors to provide gender-affirming care to minors.
Llano County, Texas is facing a difficult decision this week as the Commissioners Court is set to discuss the potential closure of the county’s public library system. This follows a federal judge ordering the Llano County Library System to return twelve children’s books to its shelves that had been removed due to their LGBTQ and racial content. The library system provides access to books, magazines, and other media, as well as educational and recreational programs for children and adults. The outcome of the meeting will have a significant impact on the county’s residents and their access to these resources.
Kansas has passed a law banning transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports from kindergarten through college, overriding the veto of Democratic Governor Laura Kelly. The law has been met with criticism from LGBTQ activists and the Kansas State High School Activities Association, who argue that it is discriminatory and difficult to enforce. It is the latest in a series of restrictions on LGBTQ rights in the state.
Kentucky Legislature Passes Extreme Anti-Transgender Bill, Sparking Outrage from LGBTQ Rights Groups
Kentucky Legislature Passes Extreme Anti-Transgender Bill, Sparking Outrage from LGBTQ Rights Groups
Kentucky's legislature has passed SB150, an extreme anti-transgender bill that bans gender-affirming health care for minors, prohibits discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity in K-12 schools, and bars transgender students from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity. The bill has been met with strong opposition from LGBTQ rights groups, who argue that it is unconstitutional and will have a detrimental impact on the mental health of transgender youth. The bill is set to go into effect in July 2021.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has signed a bill into law that prohibits transgender students from using restrooms that do not align with the sex listed on their birth certificate. The bill applies to pre-K through 12th grade public and charter schools, and those who do not comply with the law can be fined a minimum of $1,000. This is part of a larger trend of GOP-led legislative efforts to restrict LGBTQ rights in schools, and the bill has been met with criticism from LGBTQ rights groups.