House Education Democrats decry passage of Don’t Say Gay bill out of committee

Today, House Republicans voted a bill modeled off Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation out of the House Committee on Education. House Democrats rebuked the proposal, which would add to teachers’ already overworked schedules and intimidate Indiana’s LGBTQ community from leading full, public lives. 

 Ranking Democrat of the Indiana House Education Committee Rep. Vernon G. Smith (D-Gary), State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis), State Rep. Sheila Klinker (D-Lafayette) and State Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D-Terre Haute) voted against the proposal. House Bill 1608 ultimately advanced out of committee and now heads to the full House for consideration.   

 “Students in kindergarten through third grade are not being taught sexual education. We’re stomping out a problem that doesn’t exist. 

“As amended, the bill now affects all students K-12. It authorizes teachers to call students by names that they prefer despite directives of the child or parent,” Democrats on the House Education Committee said. 

 “It’s tragic the supermajority has devoted considerable time and resources this session to expanding mental health resources in Indiana, only to sour those positive steps by undercutting a group of vulnerable Hoosiers who experience higher rates of mental health struggles and suicides. We will fight this questionable bill every step of the way.”