Ohio Senate passes “shameful” bill that would force schools to out LGBTQ+ kids

[Jessica_Rose]

Ohio Senate passes "shameful" bill that would force schools to out LGBTQ+ kids to their parents

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/ohio-senate-passes-shameful-bill-that-would-force-schools-to-out-lgbtq-kids-to-their-parents/ar-AA1wCmfu?ocid=windirect&cvid=039fd974e3c14bf7c48b1dc7f4b06be5&ei=10

Story by Mira Lazine (28 Dec 2024)

The Ohio Senate and House have now both passed a bill that would forcibly out LGBTQ+ students to their parents and also allow parents to opt their child out of "sexuality content" at school.

House Bill 8 defines sexuality content as "any oral or written instruction, presentation, image, or description of sexual concepts or gender ideology provided in a classroom setting," with exceptions granted for STI and abuse discussion, as well as "incidental references" to sexual concepts or "gender ideology."

There is also a total ban on "sexuality content" in grades three and below, with all other grades facing a requirement for parental review of the content. It additionally requires notification of "any substantial change" in student services, defined as including changes to one's gender identity in the school system.

"If people are out and they don't have supportive parents — there is an epidemic of LGBTQ youth homelessness," Dara Atkinson, an activist with TransOhio, told News 5 Cleveland. "[There are] parents who don't affirm their children and then decide that they would like them to not be their children."

[Sephirah]

I find this article quite confusing, honestly.

The whole thing about banning sexualised content for kids in grade 3 or lower, I kind of agree with. They should not be exposed to it at that age. In the UK kids are in primary school at that age. And have no idea about any of that stuff. Grade 3 is like 8 years old. I know when I was that age I was dealing with stuff but I didn't understand what that stuff was, and trying to push it in school wouldn't have made it any easier. That's just personal opinion.

However I also agree with this:

"If people are out and they don't have supportive parents — there is an epidemic of LGBTQ youth homelessness," Dara Atkinson, an activist with TransOhio, told News 5 Cleveland. "[There are] parents who don't affirm their children and then decide that they would like them to not be their children."

I mean that's not wrong. But I don't get how they're linked. Maybe I'm just stupid. It's saying that content needs a parental review... but why would that mean a parent would think their kids are trans, rather than having to sign something because this is the world we live in these days? I don't immediately see why this is outing trans kids to their parents. Other than the school asking for the parents to sign off on stuff they may or may not want their kid to be exposed to. The parents of cis kids would need to see and do the same thing?

Am I missing something really blatantly obvious here?