If you agree, please write your state representative and say:
Dearest Representative,
Thank you if you plan to vote no on HB 1557, the bill dubbed the don’t say gay bill.
I can’t help but wonder if the goal of the bill is to harm the neighborhood and magnet schools since this bill doesn’t apply to all publicly funded schools, i.e. only to the district-run schools. If this bill was truly about transparency and parent’s rights, then wouldn’t it apply to all publicly funded schools? This bill (among other things) allows a parent to sue the school district if a form about services wasn’t given to the parent.
If you can’t bring yourself to VOTE NO on HB 1557 or even if you plan to vote no, please vote yes on these amendments to make the bill less egregious.
HB 1557 is getting its first reading on the House floor on February 22. As you know, the bill gets three readings before the vote by the House. Please amend it to make it less egregious before that vote.
Amendment 870647
Delete these lines 34-40 and 105 -110 which say
“A parent of a student may bring an action against a school district to obtain a declaratory judgment that a school district procedure or practice violates this paragraph and seek injunctive relief. A court may award damages and shall award reasonable attorney fees and court costs to a parent who receives declaratory or injunctive relief.”
Amendment 884605 says:
Remove lines 58-59 and insert:
provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the student, regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual identity, or disability.
Amendment 703365 says
Replace lines 83 to 85 with
Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual activity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3
Here’s the part of the original being amended beginning on line 83:
“Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 … “
Amendment 178971 says
Remove line 79 and insert:
personnel [may] withhold such information from a parent if the information would out a LGBTQ+ student without that student’s consent
Thank you,
At this link, you can find YOUR Florida legislators for both the state and US Congress: https://www.myfloridahouse.gov/FindYourRepresentative
It’s probably best to send this message to them via their contact page on their website so they’ll know you’re their constituent. But if you’d prefer to just email them, below are the email addresses.
The email addresses for the Florida representatives in the Jacksonville area:
angie.nixon@myfloridahouse.gov, clay.yarborough@myfloridahouse.gov, cord.byrd@myfloridahouse.gov, Jason.fischer@myfloridahouse.gov, wyman.duggan@myfloridahouse.gov, tracie.davis@myfloridahouse.gov
The email addresses for surrounding Jacksonville:
Flagler,St. Johns,Volusia
Paul.Renner@myfloridahouse.gov
St. Johns
cyndi.stevenson@myfloridahouse.gov
