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 and Louisiana are considering legislation that mimics the Florida law. And 

 says he'll make a similar bill a top priority at the next session. 

Across the United States, at least a dozen states are considering new legislation that in several ways will mirror Florida's new controversial law, referred to 

The specific details regarding the bills vary between states. But overall, they seek to prohibit schools from using a curriculum or discussing topics of gender identity or sexual orientation.

"The institutionalization of these bills is an overt form of structural transphobia and homophobia, and it goes against all public health evidence in creating a safe and supportive environment for transgender, nonbinary, queer, gay and lesbian youths and teachers to thrive," 

, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington, told NPR. 

Restar, a social epidemiologist and health equity advocate, said the controversial bills will limit all youths to live to their fullest potential, adding "there should be no room for transphobia and homophobia — especially in the classroom."

The Florida law drew controversy — and copycats

Last month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed 

the state's "Parental Rights in Education" bill

, barring public school teachers from holding classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity for students in kindergarten through third grades "or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards."

"We will make sure that parents can send their kids to school to get an education, not an indoctrination," DeSantis said at 

It drew immediate nationwide controversy — and had teachers like Paula Stephens worried. 

Teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity isn't part of the first

 part of her curriculum, and some of her students may have two moms or two dads.

"It makes me wonder," she said. "When I talk about families in my classroom, am I going to be violating this law because the children were having discussions about what their family looks like?"

Taking Florida's lead, states began proposing their own bills. Among them:

"When we segment children off and tell them that they don't exist and that they don't matter and effectively erase them from the classroom ... we effectively erase them," Kathryn Poe of Equality Ohio 

 when the Ohio bill was proposed. "We alienate an entire group of young people who need our affirmation and support."

Florida's law is only the most recent expression of attempts to curb classroom discussion on sexual orientation or gender identity across the country, said Ames Simmons, a Duke law senior lecturing fellow. 

"Florida may be the first in this wave, but there have been other laws in the past that were called 'no promo homo' laws, which forbid saying positive things about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer people in classrooms," Simmons told NPR. "With the increased visibility of transgender and non-binary people, we have seen these bills expand to also prohibit educating students about gender diversity and gender identity."

Both Simmons and David Brown, legal director for the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, say the legislative activities taking place across the country are targeting other groups.

"This trend is the continuation of a playbook that has been brought out again and again, repeatedly targeting the most marginalized groups in our society for political gain," Brown told NPR. 


Simmons added, "What is truly concerning is that these anti-LGBTQ bills have been coupled with legislative proposals that forbid teaching about structural racism and slavery, and patriarchy and sexism, on the grounds that these concepts make others uncomfortable."


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Dustin Jones

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Jonathan Franklin

The specific details regarding the bills vary between state. But overall, they seek to prohibit schools from using a curriculum or discussing topics of gender identity or sexual orientation.

Not just Florida. More than a dozen states propose so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bills

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