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By: The opinion Posted Mar 17, 2023, 23:29 pm EDT
Republican lawmakers from Florida are introducing and promoting a wave of gender and diversity bills likely to be signed into law by the governor Ron DeSantis and a Republican lawmaker acknowledged this week that your sexual health bill would prohibit girls from discussing their menstrual cycles at school, according to The Washington Post.
State Representative Stan McClain proposed House Bill 1069, which would limit instruction on sexual and reproductive health to grades 6 through 12.
At a subcommittee hearing Wednesday, Democratic state Rep. Ashley Gantt asked McClain whether the bill would “prohibit discussion of menstrual cycles” for girls who get their periods before sixth grade, noting that girls generally they begin to menstruate between the ages of 10 and 15, which would include fourth and fifth graders.
McClain replied: “I would.”
Republican Rep. McClain, who represents Ocala, Florida, later clarified that the bill would “not be the intent.” punishing girls if they went to teachers with questions or concerns about their menstrual cycleadding that he would be “open” to amendments if they were presented.
The bill passed 13-5 on Wednesday, in a party-line vote, because Republican lawmakers make up a large majority in the chamber.
Gantt told The Washington Post that he thought the bill was “egregious,” adding: “I thought it was pretty remarkable that the start of a girl’s menstrual cycle was not contemplated when they drafted this bill.”
Major changes to education in Florida
Restricting girls from talking about their periods at school isn’t the only element of McClain’s bill, which was introduced last month.
The bill requires schools to teach how “sex is determined by biology and reproductive function at birth” and “these reproductive roles are binary, stable and immutable”.
Part of the proposed legislation would require the Florida Department of Education to approve all educational materials used in sexual health. It would also give parents the right to limit the types of library books their children can check out.
The bill now heads to the state House floor. If it goes through the Republican-controlled chamber, it still must go through the state Senate before DeSantis signs it into law.
Florida Republicans introduced two bills Monday that would ban gender-affirming care for minors and they would eliminate diversity programs in universities.
On Tuesday another proposal was advanced that would ban classroom lessons on gender identity and sexual orientation until eighth grade.
The expansion of the controversial bill, which critics have labeled “Don’t Say Gay,” has the vocal support of DeSantis, a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate.
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