Rebranding Homophobia
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 Boys Art and Entertainment LGBT+ RSOL Politics Science, Technology, Health Current events Deaths by Staff Writer - March , 2022
In many states, counties, and cities across the United states new and unjust laws intended to inflict hardship and constraint targeting sexual and gender minority school children are being enacted. Homophobic adults absolutely have not adopted a more excepting attitude towards gay people and gay youth, they have rebranded and targeted those who are most vulnerable and least able to mount a defense. In Florida as House Bill 1557 (AKA: The “Don’t Say Gay” bill") inches closer to becoming law, an openly gay Flagler Palm Coast High School junior Jack Petocz who helped organize protests against House Bill 1557 was indefinitely suspended from school, which the spokesperson for the Flagler school referred to as, an "excused administrative leave". This was done under the pretext that he "was disrespectful and openly advocating against staff". The Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) has not been immune from attack. GSA is a student club that provides a safe space for LGBTQ students to learn about who they are and get a break from the bullying that is rampant in many schools. Several student groups have had to fight legal battles in court in order to form chapters or continue to meet. In Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott is demanding the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services investigate parents who support their transgender children and allow them access to gender affirming medical care prescribed by their doctors. Recently, the Texas department of health and human services removed it's suicide prevention resources for LGBT+ youth from its website. As of January 2022, 10 states have enact restrictions effectively preventing transgender students from participating in interscholastic sports teams that align with their gender identity. Several states have similar legislation pending. In the last two years, numerous school districts in many states but particularly in Texas, Tennessee, and Florida have been banning books for gay and transgender youth. In some places, even the public libraries are being forced to remove books with "gay content" and the librarians threatened with legal consequences for failing to comply. commentary |
