Clinton McCracken suffered from relentless homophobia in school, with the exception of one class: art. His art teacher, Mrs. Smith, was the only teacher who created an environment where he felt safe. Now an art teacher himself, he tries to make LGBTQ students feel protected in his classes.
But when teachers like Clinton enter their classrooms in July, it will be more difficult. The Parental Rights in Education Bill, dubbed the Don’t Say Gay Bill, will limit discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis says the bill is for parents who want their children “to receive an education, not indoctrination.” But critics say the bill will harm LGBTQ children and leave teachers fearing lawsuits.
Journalist Michael Sainato tells Michael Safi what the bill will mean for teachers and students in Florida.
Photo: Octavio Jones/Reuters
Support the Guardian
The Guardian is editorially independent. And we want to keep our journalism open and accessible to everyone. But we increasingly need our readers to fund our work.
Support the Guardian
theguardian Gt