LGBTQ in USA declares state of emergency

[Gaybutton]

Nation's largest LGBTQ advocacy group declares state of emergency

The Human Rights Campaign's emergency declaration comes amid a historic wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation sweeping state legislatures across the country.

June 6, 2023

WASHINGTON — The Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ people in the U.S. on Tuesday and a released “a guidebook for action” summarizing what it calls discriminatory laws in each state, along with “know your rights” information and health and safety resources.

Sounding the alarm about the current political environment, the nation’s largest organization devoted to the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans said advisories warning against travel to dangerous places aren’t enough to help people already living in so-called hostile states.

The campaign said it’s taking action in response to an unprecedented and dangerous spike in discriminatory legislation sweeping state houses this year, with more than 525 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced and more than 70 signed into law so far in 2023 — more than double last year’s number. In a report released Tuesday called “LGBTQ+ Americans Under Attack,” it says the new laws are a result of coordinated Republican efforts, supported by “well-funded extremist groups.”

The “LGBTQ+ Americans Fight Back” guidebook, meanwhile, also provides information about filing complaints for violations of civil rights and points to resources for financing moves and finding employment in what it calls “safer” states.

In a section called Know the Enemy/Opposition, the guidebook offers tips on how to engage in local advocacy opposing anti-LGBTQ efforts and how to navigate tough conversations about hate with friends and family.

The guidebook aims to help millions of vulnerable people, “whether they’re planning summer travel through regions that are becoming increasingly hostile to LGBTQ+ people, or whether they already live in a state where legislative assaults and political extremism are continuing to put a target on our backs,” Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement.

The emergency declaration is the first in the 40-year history of the HRC, and comes as Republican-dominated legislatures around the country have passed bills targeting people based on their identities, including laws restricting various aspects of transgender existence, from pronoun usage and bathroom access to medical care and more.

Among the latest, one of a series of bills nearing final passage in Louisiana would broadly ban K-12 public school employees in Louisiana from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom. The legislation is similar to the Florida law critics dubbed “Don’t Say Gay.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-pol ... -rcna87938

[Jun]

Among the latest, one of a series of bills nearing final passage in Louisiana would broadly ban K-12 public school employees in Louisiana from discussing sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom.

What is so bad about this one ?

As far as I'm concerned, gender is determined by biology, rather than how one chooses to identify. If someone chooses to cross dress, that's entirely up to them & I will genuinely respect their choices & play along with it. However, I don't see the need to discuss it in the classroom.

There are more important things to teach in schools.
From what I recall in the UK, schools taught absolutely nothing about finance, budgeting, energy conservation, maintaining physical health etc, all of which are rather useful for life.
They did waste lots of time promoting religion, which ought to be banned. Plus a couple of other irrelevant topics.

Perhaps the US system is ahead, but I suspect there are more important things to be discussed in school than gender identity.

[Gaybutton]

I don't see the need to discuss it in the classroom.

I do. It is far more complex than mere cross dressing. I don't know about the UK, but in the USA sex education is usually handled in the schools by trained teachers, so questions about sexual orientation and gender identity are bound to come up. Should teachers be prohibited from answering and discussing such questions? If students, especially in the higher grades, ask these questions - and you know they will - what should the teacher say, "Sorry, I'm not allowed to discuss it"?

Instead of forbidding any discussion, wouldn't it be better to train teachers how best to handle it when these questions do come up?

I don't think teachers should initiate discussion, but they shouldn't be prohibited from discussing it if and when their students bring it up. I don't think these issues should be treated as if they don't exist.

[Jun]

I don't think teachers should initiate discussion, but they shouldn't be prohibited from discussing it if and when their students bring it up.

That's reasonable.

[RichLB]

I don't think teachers should initiate discussion, but they shouldn't be prohibited from discussing it if and when their students bring it up.

That's reasonable.

The problem, of course, is how to assure teachers would discuss it objectively. A homophobic teacher could do considerable damage. It might be wiser to instruct teachers not to prohibit discussion, but to steer it to professionals better equipped to handle kids' issues.

[Jun]

The problem, of course, is how to assure teachers would discuss it objectively. A homophobic teacher could do considerable damage.

If we want schools to be objective, which seems like a very good idea, we might start by banning promotion of religion in schools.
Some of what they attempted to teach us (UK) really doesn't stand up when compared with that we know about the world from evolution, science etc.

I gather that religion is more popular in the US ?

So with an entrenched lack of objectivity and some teachers potentially being guided by religion, wouldn't it be difficult to assure an objective & unbiased discussion ?
Of course, part of the learning process is to figure out when to stop trusting people, including your teachers.

[Gaybutton]

So with an entrenched lack of objectivity and some teachers potentially being guided by religion, wouldn't it be difficult to assure an objective & unbiased discussion ?

No matter how it's done it won't be perfect. Also, virtually every school district sets its own policies. Courses taught by people qualified by training to do so are probably the best that can be done.