DeSantis/GOP Use Children As Pawns In Cruel Political Game

One could almost believe it is again the 1970's with Anita Bryant's anti-gay "Save Our Children" campaign as Republicans - especially the always despicable Ron DeSantis of Florida - pile on the "Don't Say Gay" bandwagon as a means to galvanize the GOP's shrinking Christofascist base and to desplay their "conservative" bons fides.  As is always the case with such craven and cynical individuals, no thought is given to the harm done to others, especially LGBT youth, since the sole focus is self-agrandizement and perceived political advantage or, in the case of the Christofascist base, stigmatizing and harming those who reject their hate driven dogma.  An blistering editorial board column in the Orlando Sentinal - home of Disney World which belatedly is opposing this nasty Republican legislation -  has called out DeSantis and  his fellow Republicans.  In Virginia and across the country Republicans are pushing similarly posionous and harmful bills.   Voters need to see them for the cruel opportunists that they are and realize that in actuality, they care nothing about children and youths.  It's all about politics and whipping up hatred.  Here are highlights from the well written editorial:

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 1557 — the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation that’s been nationally castigated as cruel, divisive and potentially hazardous to the mental and physical wellbeing of Florida students. The signing ceremony was staged at a Spring Hill charter school founded by the wife of DeSantis’ top education official, where boys are required to keep their hair short and only girls are allowed to wear earrings.

It was a safe space for the governor. He laughed and handed the markers he was using to the children clustered around him.

But you have to wonder about those children: How many of them will remember this event? How many will come to realize that, as they fidgeted and stared at the dark-haired man with the markers, he was enacting a law meant to intimidate teachers who might offer support to LGBTQ+ students and convince those students their voices should be silenced? Not because the students, or the teachers, were doing anything wrong. But because it was politically advantageous for Florida lawmakers and the governor to wield vicious lies, spinning false visions of child predators and erasing the identities of students who don’t conform with heterosexual norms.

So much has been said about the wreckage that this new law will create. There’s the immeasurable, but seemingly inevitable economic damage as companies remove Florida from their lists for potential expansion or relocation. The move put many of Florida’s biggest corporations in the crosshairs of controversy and many — including Disney, which recently trumpeted inclusion as one of its keys to guest relations — added to the trauma by not speaking out in a timely and decisive fashion. These companies stayed silent when they should have been demanding the return of campaign contributions from politicians who chose to capitalize on hate.

The new law allows parents to sue school boards over any teacher-led discussions of gender identity or sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade. Those discussions aren’t taking place, Florida educational leaders have said. However, the bill goes on to ban any discussions with older students that are not “age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate” – a highly subjective standard.

The new law was stripped of its most corrosive language, which could have required school officials to “out” students who identify as LGBTQ+ at school. But it does force schools to notify parents if a student needs additional services for “mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being” — ignoring the fact that family strife, including anger or denial over a child’s sexuality, is a heartbreakingly common cause of depression or suicidal thoughts.

And that goes to the heart of the anguish that will be caused by this bill. It is aimed directly at students who are suffering because of their sexuality. Lawmakers might have been offended by outspoken students like Winter Park High School student Maddie Zornek, who helped stage that school’s protest walkout and said in a letter to the Orlando Sentinel “This bill is a direct target of the LGBTQ+ community. It is riddled in homophobia and bigotry and it has no place in our schools.”

They certainly overlooked the outspoken trepidation of Ellie Zucker, an eighth grade student in Broward County, who told the Sun Sentinel: “This law being passed basically says we are not allowed to speak to teachers in class who can help me find my way when I’m really lost and really sad about being myself. I feel like my rights are being taken away as a human being.”

Prior to signing this bill, DeSantis didn’t meet with any of the courageous students leading the protests. He didn’t talk to mental-health professionals about why gender-divergent youth are at such high risk for suicide. He didn’t visit shelters for LGBTQ+ students who have been thrown away by their parents. He didn’t even curb the scurrilous dishonesty of his chief spokeswoman, who repeatedly connected non-heterosexual orientation to pedophilia.

Instead, this governor — who has often said how much he despises political theater — sat down in front of students holding signs that said “Protect Children.” And signed legislation that actively, knowingly, purposefully puts children in danger.

The children at Monday’s bill signing, used as scene-setting pawns in a war they didn’t understand, may someday feel shame. We doubt DeSantis will. But he should.

Sadly, Glenn Youngkin and most Virginia Republicans are no better than DeSantis.  Come 2023, Republicans in the General Assembly need to be punished and voted from office.