(image via Depositphotos)A bill has been filed in the Texas legislature that would ban LGBTQ Pride events in Texas schools.
LGBTQ Pride celebrations could land Texas schools in trouble under bill https://t.co/EiDBzAzxOH
— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) March 28, 2023
From the Dallas Morning News:
The bill from Republican Rep. Ken King bars public schools from organizing programs “dedicated to celebrating or providing special instruction regarding a sexual preference.”
“Having sexually-oriented celebrations at school, for all grades, is teaching our kids a sexual ideology – no matter who’s doing it,” he said.
He added: “If Pride Week is caught up in that, fine. But I didn’t specify one group over another.”
If a district does so, educators’ teaching permits could be suspended or terminated while school employees could face fines up to $10,000.
The LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Texas has launched a petition calling the legislation “a direct assault on school-based Pride celebrations or programs.”
🚨 #TXLege Action Alert!
HB 1507 is scheduled for a hearing tomorrow (03/28)! This bill would ban pride celebrations in public schools.
Sign up to testify here: https://t.co/Qyp6Kmsca5#LGBTQ #LGBTQRights #LGBTQPride pic.twitter.com/6NffAs9fk7
— Equality Texas (@EqualityTexas) March 27, 2023
The legislation is just the latest in a long list of anti-LGBTQ bills filed in the GOP-led Legislature that have focused on how gender and sexuality are treated in Texas schools.
Dozens of bills have been filed by Texas Republicans attacking LGBTQ rights this session, including bans on gender-affirming care for trans minors, and restrictions regarding drag shows.