The New Hampshire’s state senate has passed a bill that would force teachers to out LGBTQ students to their parents, even when the news could potentially lead to abusive situations at home. The legislation could also be used to silence discussion around LGBTQ topics similar to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” measures, according to LGBTQ Nation.
Reports LGBTQ Nation:
Billed as a parents’ rights bill, H.B. 431 could be used to prevent discussions of LGBTQ topics in the classroom. However, what makes New Hampshire’s Don’t Say Gay distinct is that it would force teachers to report trans and gender-expansive students to their parents. …
The language of the bill essentially forces teachers and school officials to out trans and nonbinary students to their parents, even if such an act might endanger the child’s welfare or pose a risk to the child’s well-being.
Moreover, the law’s vague terms have been called out for including students who are even just exploring parts of their identities.
“What I think we end up doing is we end up policing curiosity,” state Sen. David Watters (D) said. “The child who wants to explore things, think about things, maybe get together with other groups of children and talk and learn about how they are.”
For any LGBTQ child, this bill would have chilling effects on attempting to come out, and it would force LGBTQ kids to live in the closet, out of fear of being harmed by their parents or left homeless.
H.B. 431 will only present greater obstacles to LGBTQ students who either may not feel ready to come out or feel it is unsafe to come out to the parents, either due to threats of shunning, violence, or homelessness.
The bill already passed the state house but it will have to go back for approval since the state senate amended it, before it can be sent to Gov. Chris Sonunu (R).
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