I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes I wonder if the Democrats want to lose big in the upcoming congressional elections. The issue of parents’ rights has been at the front and center for over a year and it has shown no signs of slowing down. In fact, it is likely to become even more intense as the year goes on. With more than a dozen states considering legislation similar to Florida’s Parental Rights in Education law, the debate over education isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Democrats and their close friends and allies in the activist media have been pounding the “Don’t Say Gay” drum ever since Florida’s law made it to the airwaves. The hard left has been promoting deceptive narratives regarding the law, painting it as a bigoted attempt to harm members of the LGBTQ community. Of course, they provide no evidence to support this accusation, but what else is new?
Even now, progressives are pushing back against the idea that teachers should not be allowed to instruct young children on matters related to gender identity and sexuality. They are taking issue with laws that would also provide more transparency for parents concerned about what their children are learning in the classroom.
The Hill published a piece complaining about Florida’s law, calling it “unconstitutional, unnecessary, and bigoted.” Author Glenn C. Altschuler wrote:
HB 1557 is grotesquely vague and broad. The terms “instruction related to gender identity or sexual orientation,” “classroom discussion,” “age appropriate,” “developmentally appropriate,” “critical decisions,” and “third parties” are not defined. And the clause about age and developmentally appropriate instruction could apply to grades 4 and beyond. Moreover, the law goes into effect on July 1, 2022, one year before the Florida Board of Education is required to provide guidance on compliance.
The author then asked a hypothetical question:
Would a gay teacher — or, for that matter, a heterosexual one — violate the law if she referred to her spouse? Must a teacher remain silent if a student says he has two moms and someone else asks what that means? Must all books and periodicals with gay or transgender characters, homoerotic undertones, or, say, references to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, be banned from public schools in Florida? Must school districts inform parents that their child has asked questions related to sexual orientation or gender identity?
The Parental Rights in Education bill has been widely criticized for its vague language – but it is not quite as nebulous as Altschuler would have you believe. For starters, it forbids “instruction” regarding sexuality and gender identity. If a teacher mentions they went out for pizza with their spouse – regardless of sex – this does not necessarily constitute “instruction.” Indeed, the way the law would be enforced would be parents filing lawsuits if a teacher is found to have violated the measure. It is not likely a parent would spend the money required to file a legal action on a case they would almost certainly lose.
It is also worth noting that most laws are written in a way that has to be interpreted – so many seem to be vague. After all, the individuals who drafted the legislation would not be able to list every single solitary scenario in which a teacher would be violating the law. The courts will be the entity that will determine how violations are defined – if there are even any lawsuits resulting from the legislation in the first place.
Disney, which reluctantly entered the scuffle after being pressured by LGBTQ employees and activist groups, is still at odds with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The company, along with three other major media organizations will release a public service announcement featuring a transgender teen speaking out against legislative efforts to protect young children.
“There are some politicians who are trying to tear my family apart, simply because my son is transgender,” the mother of the teen says in the ad. “Trans kids don’t have a political agenda,” she continues. “They are just kids. They just want to be left alone. My family is just like yours, we love our kids unconditionally and we will never stop fighting for them. Stand with us. Protect our families.”
Democrats are all-in on this strategy. But is this a good idea for the left? Is this hill worth dying on?
Probably not.
Conservatives and Republicans are capitalizing on this issue by pointing out how the progressive left seeks to infuse their ideas on sexuality and gender identity into the classroom while cutting out the parents of the children involved. House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) savaged the left for perpetuating “a war on parents” and argued that “standing up for parents and kids” is one of several developments that will help the GOP retake the House according to Fox News. “Now, Biden and his extremist allies are doubling down on this insanity by trying to force sex education on five-year-olds without the consent of their parents,” he added.
House Republican Conference chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) told Fox that parents “are the primary stakeholders in their children’s education, not the federal government or far-left activists.”
Stefanik then noted how Democrats are repeating the same mistakes regarding parents’ rights that cost them Virginia’s gubernatorial election.
“Democrat politicians across America have failed to learn these lessons from Glenn Youngkin’s historic victory last November in Virginia and are now doomed to a similar fate as Terry McAuliffe on the national level,” she asserted. “When House Republicans earn back the majority this November, we will enact our Parents Bill of Rights. This legislation will make it clear that parents matter and should have a voice in their child’s education.”
The bottom line is that the pro-parents’ rights crowd is winning this battle. A recent Morning Consult poll showed that even the majority of Democratic voters agree with Florida’s law. The question is, why are Democrats still doubling down on something that is so unpopular with the public?
