Congressional Republicans introduced a national version of DeSantis’s discriminatory “Don’t Say Gay” bill that would essentially prohibit public schools from discussing LGBTQ+ people, histories, identities, or even sexual health or sexual education at all with students younger than 10.

The bill, introduced by Rep. Mike Johnson, aims to strip away federal funding from programs that feature LGBTQ+-affirming materials for children, such as advice on gender-affirming healthcare, under the false pretense of “protecting innocent children.”

Per the legislation, federal funds would be prohibited “to [be used to] develop, implement, facilitate, or fund any sexually-oriented program, event, or literature for children under the age of 10.”

The language is broad and all-encompassing. As Harvard Cyber Law Clinic instructor Alejandra Caraballo wrote on Twitter, “Universities, public schools, hospitals, medical clinics, etc. could all be defunded if they host any event discussing LGBTQ people and children could be present. The way they define “sexually oriented material” simply includes anything about LGBTQ people.”

To be clear, U.S. children are not being sexualized, as Johnson and other Republicans claim. The Advocate reports that most students in the nation aren’t exposed to or taught about LGBTQ+ issues in school at any point. Additionally, a 2021 GLSEN study found that “the majority of students reported that their classes did not teach positive representations of LGBTQ+ history, people, or events, and did not include positive representations of LGBTQ+ topics in sex education.” This is clearly another blatant attempt to normalize hate.

We cannot dismiss this hateful legislation. We must stand against this clear intent by the GOP to attack the LGBTQ+ community and LGBTQ+ rights.

Sign the petition: Oppose Congressional GOP attacks on LGBTQ+ rights