COLUMBUS, Ohio — On March 28, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill prohibiting the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. It is a bill that has sparked widespread criticism from opponents who claim it alienates LGBTQ individuals.
Now two legislators in Ohio want to pass a similar law. House Republicans Mike Loychik and Jean Schmidt introduced House Bill 616 on Monday.
Alana Jochum, Executive Director for Equality Ohio, said concerning H.B. 616, “ It seeks to censor all discussion of LGBTQ+ issues in our schools.”
Jochum went on to say, “The legislation also attempts to whitewash our history by banning honest discussions of race in the classroom, including diversity, equity, and inclusion and any other concept that the state board of education defines as divisive.”
The bill would prohibit schools from teaching what lawmakers say are inherently racist concepts. According to the two Republican lawmakers, all materials or academic curricula including the following will be banned.
- Critical race theory
- Intersectional theory
- The 1619 project
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion learning outcomes
- Inherited racial guilt
H.B. 616 does not stop at race and includes sexual orientation and gender identity.
“With respect to a student in any of grades kindergarten through three, teach, use, or provide any curriculum or instructional materials on sexual orientation or gender identity; With respect to a student in any of grades four through twelve, teach, use, or provide any curriculum or instructional materials on sexual orientation or gender identity in any manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students”
The broad language, legal analysts say, opens the door to various interpretations of what qualifies for prohibition.
The bill can be read in its entirety by clicking here.
