According to the Orlando Weekly article, a viral social media post that mischaracterized what is or isn’t allowed with the Florida “Don’t Say Gay Law”, which isn’t what the law says at all. Made people concerned over what is actually allowed in the classroom.
The social media post claimed that LGBTQ teachers were barred from having a photo of their spouse/family on their desk or talking about their partners in the classroom. This concerned people about what they were restricted from doing.
A memo from Orange County Public Schools says that the social media post was incorrect. LGBTQ teachers are allowed to have pictures on their desk of their significant others and tall about their spouse, significant others as well as their family. This does not constitute “teaching” gender or violate the Florida Law that went into effect on July 1, 2022.
Some parents consider this a loophole in the law because teacher are free to respond to their students questions about the teacher’s personal or family life. For example, if a teacher talks about their same sex partner, they are free to respond to questions on a personal discussion level about their family life and partners. Further the Law does not stop students from stating their “gender identity” in an essay or other class assignments, it only prohibits the teacher for assigning the topic.
Some parents are concerned that the teachers will use this loophole to talk about their family and their lives which will provoke discussions about gender identity which the teachers are allowed to respond to. It is a gray area that some parents are uncomfortable with.
OCPS is listed in a lawsuit about the Law, attempting to bar them from enforcing the rules around teaching gender identity curriculum.