This midterm election cycle, Republicans are putting the bulk of their energy into stirring outrage about (and against) LGBTQ+ people. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is an excellent example of this method in action. As we continue to face the novel coronavirus pandemic, gun violence is an ongoing crisis, and people of color—particularly Black men and trans women—are still routinely targeted and killed by police. But when it comes to getting votes, conservatives are hoping to use the old anti-queer fear campaigns from decades ago by painting queer folks as “predatory” and “inappropriate.”
As Daily Kos has continued to cover, the Don’t Say Gay bill, signed into law by DeSantis, is one example of this manifestation. The legislation essentially puts LGBTQ+ school staff in the closet and teaches a generation of young people that queer identity and history are inappropriate or not important enough to be taught in the public school classroom. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it seems LGBTQ+ rights and resources are dwindling in Florida schools already—including an anti-bullying video for teens.
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In this case, as reported by local outlet Jackson Today, Duval County Public Schools removed an anti-bullying video that taught middle and high school students effective ways to support their LGBTQ+ peers. The video was 12 minutes. According to the outlet, students helped create the video meant to educate their peers. The video reportedly goes into how to respond when classmates come out and how to combat bullying. It was created with funds from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant. Students who watched the video as part of an anti-bullying program received an “All In For Safe Schools” badge.
I haven’t seen the video myself, so I can’t attest to how good the advice was, but I can speak to the research that shows LGBTQ+ youth face disproportionate bullying and harassment while at school. They’re also more likely to skip class. This same research shows queer youth are less likely to complete high school with a diploma and are more likely to become homeless. These issues are (obviously) nuanced, but it is not hard to imagine why vulnerable young people wouldn’t want to be in an unsafe space.
Even still, Tracey Pierce, who serves as a spokesperson for the district, told the outlet the video has been removed for “legal review” to make sure the content “complies with recent state legislation.”
Because there’s nothing DeSantis enjoys more than making sure taxpayer dollars are going to waste in his state.