Bob Chapek's response to Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill

[TP2000]

I've read the bill several times now. It appeared earlier in this thread many people here hadn't even read it.

I'm not a legal law expert, but the bill seemed fairly straightforward and clearly written. I was able to understand it. So I'm not sure what's "vague" about it and how it could be "weaponized". Especially since it's not even a law yet.

It's a seven (7) page bill that deals almost exclusively with parental rights to have full access to any mental health records, or records related to their child's development and overall well-being, that the school administration is compiling on their children.

If I were a parent I would demand to see any notes or files or psychiatric evaluations a school district had on my child, whether it involves their budding sexuality, or anxiety issues, or developmental concerns, or other serious issues that are often part of the occasionally bumpy road of childhood.

That seems a reasonable thing for parents to have access to. And I haven't seen anyone here have a concern with that.

And then theres sub-paragraph 3 that deals with not putting sexual orientation and gender identity into formal curriculum until after the 3rd Grade. That's the part that seems to have everyone up in arms and sending gay postcards to Tallahassee mail room clerks to chuckle over.

So I'm unclear on what the problem is. Sexual orientation is not currently included in public school curriculum for children younger than 8 years old in Florida. So... this is much ado about a school curriculum that doesn't currently exist, but would be prevented from coming into existence in the future prior to the 4th grade.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1557/BillText/er/PDF

 

[SpectroMagician]

Just a reminder the bill does not mention the word "gay" at all, and does not bar anyone from saying a word. Anyone calling it the "Don't Say Gay" bill is straight up gaslighting you. What this bill does do is stop pedophiles from grooming children under 9 and teaching them about sexual desires. If you support 1st grade teachers talking about who people like to have sex with in the classroom then I think you are a sick person.

 

[SpectroMagician]

I've read the bill several times now. It appeared earlier in this thread many people here hadn't even read it.

I'm not a legal law expert, but the bill seemed fairly straightforward and clearly written. I was able to understand it. So I'm not sure what's "vague" about it and how it could be "weaponized". Especially since it's not even a law yet.

It's a seven (7) page bill that deals almost exclusively with parental rights to have full access to any mental health records, or records related to their child's development and overall well-being, that the school administration is compiling on their children.

If I were a parent I would demand to see any notes or files or psychiatric evaluations a school district had on my child, whether it involves their budding sexuality, or anxiety issues, or developmental concerns, or other serious issues that are often part of the occasionally bumpy road of childhood.

That seems a reasonable thing for parents to have access to. And I haven't seen anyone here have a concern with that.

And then theres sub-paragraph 3 that deals with not putting sexual orientation and gender identity into formal curriculum until after the 3rd Grade. That's the part that seems to have everyone up in arms and sending gay postcards to Tallahassee mail room clerks to chuckle over.

So I'm unclear on what the problem is. Sexual orientation is not currently included in public school curriculum for children younger than 8 years old. So... this is much ado about a school curriculum that doesn't currently exist, but would be prevented from coming into existence in the future prior to the 4th grade.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1557/BillText/er/PDF

Thank you for laying it out as the leftist gaslighters will lie about this until the ends of the earth. The only reason I can think they are so strongly against it is they enjoy talking about who people have sex with to 6 year olds. There is a word for that type of person that starts with pedo, but I will likely get banned for accurately calling them out for it.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Thank you for laying it out as the leftist gaslighters will lie about this until the ends of the earth. The only reason I can think they are so strongly against it is they enjoy talking about who people have sex with to 6 year olds. There is a word for that type of person that starts with pedo, but I will likely get banned for accurately calling them out for it.

The gaslighters are the people who wrote the bill and people claiming that those who are against the bill want children in grades k-3 taught anything about sex. Go back and read the entire thread because you don't have any clue what you're talking about.

The man who is behind the creation of the bill said EXPLICITLY and in a video posted earlier in this thread, that it was created because he thinks schools are turning children gay and trans.

 

[SpectroMagician]

The gaslighters are the people who wrote the bill and people claiming that those who are against the bill want children in grades k-3 taught anything about sex. Go back and read the entire thread because you don't have any clue what you're talking about.

The man who is behind the creation of the bill said EXPLICITLY and in a video posted earlier in this thread, that it was created because he thinks schools are turning children gay and trans.

Can you point to what in the actual bill you disagree with? I don't care at all what the writer said, that is irrelevant to what is in the law itself.

 

[TP2000]

A bunch of times...it barely represents what the bill was originally. I thought the same as you, but it offers the ability to sue teachers if a parent becomes upset, they aren't to discuss anything relating to LGBTQ (should be interesting when a child has to do an "about me" project and has gay parents), and if teachers learn that a student is gay and hasn't told their parents, the teacher is required to out the student to the parents, with no protections or exemptions if there is a risk of abuse.

Much of what you just said there is not true, or is not represented correctly.

There's a long process of various boards and reviews that a parent must engage with at the local and state level before a parent is allowed to sue a school district for violating this law. It actually makes the school district and the parent jump through several meetings and reviews, the state appoints a "special magistrate" to investigate, and on and on, all in an attempt to allow the school district to fix the concern and/or show to the parent exactly what was happening and how the school was complying with the law.

Karen can't just roll into the principal's office and yell "I'm suing you!". Karen's going to have to do a lot of legwork and the school district is going to be given several formal chances to explain and prove they were not in the wrong before Karen gets to sue.

Your last allegation that teachers are going to be required to out gay students to their abusive, homophobic parents is just flat out incorrect. The exact wording in the bill about keeping information from potentially abusive parents is found on Page 4...

"This subparagraph does not prohibit a school district from adopting procedures that permit school personnel to withhold such information from a parent if a reasonably prudent person would believe that disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect, as those terms are defined in s. 39.01."

Just wanted to throw that out there, not specifically to you, but just because there seems to be a heckuva lot of misinformation about what this bill actually says, and what it doesn't say. Again, it appears that earlier in this thread many people here hadn't even read the darn bill, they'd only read Tweets about it.

It's an easy and clearly written bill to understand. I suggest everyone take 10 minutes and read it!

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1557/BillText/er/PDF

 

[ImperfectPixie]

This law is absolutely an attack on the LGBTQ+ community. It's worded in such a way that it can be used to prevent teachers from talking about different types of families with children if there is an LGBTQ+ member of the family - which is a part of every curriculum, and includes those in which a divorce has occurred, adoption, bi-racial, single mom, single dad, 2 moms, 2 dads, etc. There are many projects in which children are required to discuss their families, family tree, family activities, etc. etc.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Your last allegation that teachers are going to be required to out gay students to their abusive, homophobic parents is just flat out incorrect. The exact wording in the bill about keeping information from potentially abusive parents is found on Page 4...

"This subparagraph does not prohibit a school district from adopting procedures that permit school personnel to withhold such information from a parent if a reasonably prudent person would believe that disclosure would result in abuse, abandonment, or neglect, as those terms are defined in s. 39.01."

"Does not prohibit" means that such procedures are allowed, but not required. This is sneaky wording so as to trick people into thinking that "oh, they allowed for that, so this law must be good", when what it does is leave room for schools to NOT adopt procedures for withholding information from parents if they think abuse is possible. Those procedures should be 100% REQUIRED.

 

[Angel Ariel]

no the attacks are not on "public education" at all, they are on teachers preaching a religion that parents do not want their kids learning. This leftism that you want to teach is indeed your religion, and most people do not subscribe to it.

Parents have zero issues with public education when done properly, and not used to spread propaganda or talk about creepy sex stuff with 6 year olds. I REALLY hope you as a teacher do not talk about sexual desires with 6 year olds, if you do I think you should be in jail.

Nothing I’ve said here has advocated for teaching sexual desires to 6 year olds. For the love. Nor is that actually what’s happening in classrooms.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Nothing I’ve said here has advocated for teaching sexual desires to 6 year olds. For the love. Nor is that actually what’s happening in classrooms.

But we're the gaslighters.

 

[TP2000]

"Does not prohibit" means that such procedures are allowed, but not required. This is sneaky wording so as to trick people into thinking that "oh, they allowed for that, so this law must be good", when what it does is leave room for schools to NOT adopt procedures for withholding information from parents if they think abuse is possible. Those procedures should be 100% REQUIRED.

If a school district is purposely putting students in abusive family situations, that's a problem. I can't imagine any school district purposely doing that, can you?

The wording seems perfectly acceptable, because I have to imagine schools already have established processes in place to prevent sending children home to parents that the school suspects or has been told are abusive. This wording makes clear that those existing preventative processes may remain in place, as an exemption from this law that otherwise allows parents open access to their child's school records.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

If a school district is purposely putting students in abusive family situations, that's a problem. I can't imagine any school district purposely doing that, can you?

The wording seems perfectly acceptable, because I have to imagine schools already have established processes in place to prevent sending children home to parents that the school suspects or has been told are abusive. This wording makes clear that those existing preventative processes may remain in place, as an exemption from this law that otherwise allows parents open access to their child's school records.

That's a pretty huge assumption.

 

[TP2000]

Well, so now that everyone has had a chance to read the bill, and it appears the bill will become law by a majority of Florida legislators and the Florida Governor, next steps for people concerned about the bill would seem to be...

Florida voters electing a majority of state legislators and a Governor that would rescind the law and cancel or rewrite the bill. The beauty of our democratic system, over say a slower moving Parliamentary system like Canada, is that voters get the chance to elect legislators every two years and a Governor every four years.

Disney has put a "pause" on its campaign contributions to all politicians in Florida for now, so it appears Disney won't have much impact on this year's races. Unless they un-pause their campaign donations in Florida. But for now, Disney is out of the mix.

And in Florida, the Governor is up for re-election this very year, so Florida voters don't need to wait very long. The election for Governor is about seven months away now. Plus the usual gaggle of State Senators and State Representatives.

 

[TP2000]

That's a pretty huge assumption.

Again, I don't have kids. But I have to assume that school districts have processes in place to prevent child abuse, and to engage with appropriate child welfare authorities if they suspect abuse is taking place in the home.

Much less if a child flat out says "If my parents find out I'm gay, they're going to beat me and kick me out of the house." I do know there are specific laws that have been on the books for decades that demand that teachers and school staff respond and report to abuse situations immediately. They can't ignore it.

EDIT: I Googled. It's called being a "Mandated Reporter", and it's a law on the books in all 50 states. Some states go so far as to make every citizen a "Mandated Reporter". But school teachers and administrators have been called out specifically for decades, and have been trained to be "Mandated Reporters" and know their responsibility.

Here's the list of Mandated Reporters of suspected child abuse situations in Florida currently, and this legal statute 39.2 is actually cross referenced in this current bill we're talking about.

Florida Current Through April 2019 Professionals Required to Report Citation: Ann. Statute. § 39.201 The following persons are mandated reporters:
• Physicians, osteopaths, medical examiners, chiropractors, nurses, or hospital personnel
• Other health or mental health professionals
• Practitioners who rely solely on spiritual means for healing
• Teachers or other school officials or personnel
• Social workers, daycare center workers, or other professional child care, foster care, residential, or institutional workers
• Law enforcement officers or judges

What it Means that Teachers are Mandated Reporters - Education Corner

A Guide to mandated reporting, and the implications for teachers, parents, and students.

www.educationcorner.com

 

[brb1006]

John Oliver just discussed Disney and the bill during his opening for Last Week Tonight. Alongside talking about Chapek's response from The Shareholders Meeting.

If you have HBO Max, the full episode can be viewed where he discussed it which is usually cut from the official Youtube Channel for the show.

 

[Nubs70]

Now K-3 is about sexual orientation not abc's, nap time and chocolate milk? Wow, we have truly progressed as a society.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Now K-3 is about sexual orientation not abc's, nap time and chocolate milk? Wow, we have truly progressed as a society.

No. It isn't. Go back and read the thread before you make assumptions like that.

 

[lazyboy97o]

No. It isn't. Go back and read the thread before you make assumptions like that.

Don’t you love how the claim of what the curriculum should be is itself ridiculous in its low standards?

 

[The Mom]

Please remember that personal attacks are not allowed.

Thank you.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Again, I don't have kids. But I have to assume that school districts have processes in place to prevent child abuse, and to engage with appropriate child welfare authorities if they suspect abuse is taking place in the home.

Much less if a child flat out says "If my parents find out I'm gay, they're going to beat me and kick me out of the house." I do know there are specific laws that have been on the books for decades that demand that teachers and school staff respond and report to abuse situations immediately. They can't ignore it.

EDIT: I Googled. It's called being a "Mandated Reporter", and it's a law on the books in all 50 states. Some states go so far as to make every citizen a "Mandated Reporter". But school teachers and administrators have been called out specifically for decades, and have been trained to be "Mandated Reporters" and know their responsibility.

Here's the list of Mandated Reporters of suspected child abuse situations in Florida currently, and this legal statute 39.2 is actually cross referenced in this current bill we're talking about.

Florida Current Through April 2019 Professionals Required to Report Citation: Ann. Statute. § 39.201 The following persons are mandated reporters:
• Physicians, osteopaths, medical examiners, chiropractors, nurses, or hospital personnel
• Other health or mental health professionals
• Practitioners who rely solely on spiritual means for healing
• Teachers or other school officials or personnel
• Social workers, daycare center workers, or other professional child care, foster care, residential, or institutional workers
• Law enforcement officers or judges

What it Means that Teachers are Mandated Reporters - Education Corner

A Guide to mandated reporting, and the implications for teachers, parents, and students.

www.educationcorner.com

The lack of a requirement protecting in the case of suspected abuse leaves children vulnerable to abuse. Reporting after-the-fact is great...but the preventative measures need to be there in the first place.