Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick expressed his wish for Texas to have a law similar to Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation on Monday (April 4), according to The Texas Tribune, Austin NBC affiliate KXAN reported.
The measure, which Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed into law, bars teachers from teaching about sexual orientation or gender identity at the elementary level or any lessons considered not “age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for older students.” Patrick, also a Republican, wrote in a campaign email that the Education Committee will discuss the matter before the start of the next legislative session in 2023, The Texas Tribune reported.
“I will make this law a top priority in the next session,” Patrick said, per the publication.
According to The Texas Tribune, parents in Florida bear the responsibility of enforcing the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
The publication reported that Texas’ restrictive abortion law, Senate Bill 8, operates in a similar fashion. SB8 states that private citizens can file a lawsuit against individuals who allegedly “aids or abets” an abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy.
The Florida law’s proponents assert that it affords parents more rights, according to The Texas Tribune. Empowering parents when it comes to their children’s education is purportedly a platform in Gov. Greg Abbott’s 2022 reelection campaign, the publication reported.
Patrick’s announcement follows the GOP’s efforts to ban the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) in schools.
KXAN reported that Patrick also introduced other priorities he believes the state legislature should tackle in the upcoming regular session.
According to the lieutenant governor, he wants lawmakers to prioritize issues, including, but not limited to border security, the criminal justice system and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on Texas educators.
