South Florida high school reacts to controversial “Don’t Say Gay” bill
Pompano Beach students and teachers express disappointment over new legislation that aims to ban discussion of gender differences in young grades.
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education bill while visiting Classical Preparatory School in Spring Hill, Fla., in late March, officially putting a bill that has sparked controversy nationwide into full effect.
On March 28, House Bill 1557 was officially signed, a bill that has also been discussed across the country as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. This bill has put a permanent ban on the teaching and talking about topics such as sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms across the state.
While this bill may only be affecting kindergarten through third-grade classrooms, the students and staff of Broward County’s Pompano Beach High School believe that it is impacting the LGBTQ+ community in the entire state of Florida, as well as across the country.
Pompano Beach High School has been ranked as the number-one school in all of Broward County for another year, with the overall spotlight shining on its International Affairs with Information Technology magnet program. When it comes to diversity in the school and other schools as a whole, clubs serve a great purpose in bringing people of all different backgrounds together, with Pompano Beach High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) being one of these clubs.
The school’s GSA is the official safe spot for those who are a part of the LBGTQ+ community, as well as for those who show unconditional support for this community. When speaking to members of the club regarding the new bill, sophomore Blitzen Kennon (he/him) felt as if the bill would make members of the community feel scared to be themselves.
“Kid's books have been made to teach children about that [gender identity and sexual orientation],” Kennon said. “Not being able to talk about these things, even if it’s just one state, really affects so many people, not just in Florida.”
Kennon and other members of the club shared a discussion regarding the bill in a recent club meeting, with the overall response being negative. The club reflected on a keynote event in which members of the school board gathered to educate those about the new bill and just how it would affect the curriculum/LBGTQ+ community, leaving members of the GSA concerned and sad for the future of this community.
Junior Danielle Cale (they/them) recently won the Florida Scholastic Press Association’s All Florida title for their article regarding SB 148, a bill that they described to hold minuscule influence compared to House Bill 1557.
“The first bill [SB 148] was very subtle in what it was doing,” Cale said. “This one [House Bill 1557] is a lot more out there, so putting something out right after something way more subtle makes the thing before it less subtle.”
Cale also makes sure to be in attendance of GSA meetings when not busy with their job, stating that the overall environment when they attend would rather keep the discussion of the bill outside the classroom walls due to the overall negativity it carries for the community.
“When I attend, we usually keep onto the lighter topics since most people are so used to the negatives,” Cale said. “GSA is more of a place where we can get away from those negatives.”
Rick Nagy, a history teacher and the school’s Black Student Union advisor, is known by a majority of the student body as well as alumni to be a welcoming and inclusive teacher to all. No matter if one has taken a class with him or not, and especially no matter the color of one’s skin or the gender identity one may possess, Nagy’s classroom door remains open for one-on-one conversations or even just for students to hang out and chat. When it comes to staff reactions regarding the bill, Nagy had a lot to say.
“I deal with kids all the time who come out, who are thinking about coming out, who ask me questions in private, and I always want to be that source for that person to say ‘Hey, it’s okay who you are,’” Nagy said.
In regards to the grade levels that that bill will affect, Nagy expresses great gratitude that it won’t affect the level he currently holds, yet also expresses concern if it were to be passed at this level of education.
“They’re [DeSantis and Florida legislature] are trying to send a message throughout education, and that concerns me,” Nagy said. “Would they be able to pass it at this level, then it becomes scary, and what if these kids feel like they can’t speak to me?”
Overall, there are great amounts of concern and general sadness in relation to the passing of the bill throughout the halls of Pompano Beach High School, with students and faculty wondering what DeSantis’ next move may possibly be. Nagy posed a serious question with the future of education in mind, with the future of the LGBTQ+ community also sharing similar concerns.
“Ignorance brews hate,” Cale said. “The more that we know about each other with the possibility of being different, the more accepting our community is going to be; pushing that back with this bill is not going to do anything good.”
