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Parental rights movement

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bobby Cohn (talk | contribs) at 20:14, 13 September 2023. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

  • Comment: Really good draft, Editor. I've added some Wikilinks and made minor changes to the wording. I also have added some maintenance tags to the Criticism section: if you address these this draft should then be accepted- feel free to ping me once you've fixed the issues. Qcne (talk) 19:12, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
Hi @Qcne:, I think I've addressed all of your concerns, I reworded the prose so as to avoid making the statements about the critics, rather the information, and I've added citations where necessary. Let me know what you think! MicrobiologyMarcus (talk) 20:14, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
  • Comment: Good topic, and decently written (a hard topic for sure to try and write neutrally on) but I don't think any of the history section is necessary. -- NotCharizard 🗨 17:11, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
Hi @Notcharizard:, I agree—I went ahead and removed the background section because I didn't think it was that pertinent. I might consider giving more context in the future but I think I'm happy with focusing on the actual movement and its criticisms for now. Thanks for your feedback! MicrobiologyMarcus (talk) 20:14, 13 September 2023 (UTC)
Not to be confused with Parents' rights movement.

The parental rights movement is a far-right movement in the United States and Canada aimed at restricting the ability of transgender and non-gender conforming children to use preferred pronouns or chosen names while at school or otherwise not under the supervision of their parents.[1] More broadly, it aims to prevent the teaching of LGBTQ+ issues in public schools. The parental rights movement was brought to mainstream attention with the passage of the Parental Rights in Education Act in Florida, colloquially known as the "Don't Say Gay" law, by governor Ron DeSantis. Since then, the movement has expanded across the US and Canada.[2][3] Opponents of the movement argue that parental rights legislation endangers children by possibly outing them to abusive guardians.[4][5][6]

The main focus of parental rights supporters is centered around notifying parents when their children elect to use a different name or set of pronouns that do not align with the sex assigned at birth, or allowing parents to prevent children from doing so entirely.[7] It further aims to prevent the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity to children altogether.

Other aspects of the parental rights movement have previously involved preventing the closure of public schools in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]

United States

In 2022, the US state of Florida passed the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act, regulating all public schools in the state. The law prohibits public schools from having "classroom discussion" or giving "classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten through third grade or in any manner deemed to be against state standards in all grades; prohibits public schools from adopting procedures or student support forms that maintain the confidentiality of a disclosure by a student, including of the gender identity or sexual orientation of a student, from parents; and requires public schools to bear all the costs of all lawsuits filed by aggrieved parents."

Following its passage, Republicans in the House of Representatives introduced the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act, a bill largely based off of the act in Florida.

As of 2023, 20 states have had their legislatures introduce derivative bills of the Parental Rights in Education Act, including Arizona,[8] Georgia,[9] Iowa,[10][11] Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan,[12] Missouri,[13] Ohio,[14] Oklahoma,[15] Tennessee, and South Carolina.[16][17] In April 2022, Alabama became the second state to pass a similar bill, with governor Kay Ivey signing House Bill 322, legislation which additionally requires all students to use either male or female bathrooms in Alabama public schools based on their biological sex. It is noted that some states have had similar provisions to Florida's law since the 1980s, though they have never gained the name of "Don't Say Gay" bills by critics until recently.[18][19]

Canada

Prior to the start of the 2023 school year, the province of New Brunswick altered a policy affecting both formal and informal name changes, and the ability of students to choose their preferred pronouns. It limited the ability of students to make changes to their personal preferences within notifying and receiving parental consent.[20] In the same year, Saskatchewan also introduced a policy requiring parental consent for children that wished to change their names or pronouns in school.[21]

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has accused school boards in the province of "indoctrinating" students on gender identity,[22] and has stated that parents should be involved with decisions around pronoun use at schools.[23][24]

Federally, the Conservative Party of Canada adopted the party platform prohibiting "medicinal or surgical interventions" for gender-diverse and transgender kids.[25] Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party Pierre Poilievre has said that schools should leave LGBT issues to parents.[26]

Criticism

The parental rights movement is viewed as a form of pushback by Conservatism against wide-spread acceptance of LGTBQ+ individuals and issues more broadly.

Critics of the parental rights movement include parents,[27] teachers,[28] students,[27][29] human rights groups,[30] and corporations.[31] They argue that policies which forcibly out endanger children and can be damaging or life-threatening to those with unsupportive families.[32][33] Such policies have garnered significant concern due to the potential for adverse consequences, including emotional distress, harm to mental well-being, and even life-threatening situations for those affected.[34][35] The fundamental concern raised by these critics revolves around the notion that forcibly revealing an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity against their will can lead to negative consequences. In cases where a child or teenager may be struggling with their identity, the revelation of their LGBTQ+ status without their consent can lead to emotional turmoil and conflict within their family. It is argued that this can contribute to a hostile or unsafe environment at home, where individuals may experience rejection, discrimination, or even face the risk of physical harm.

A result of parental rights-focused policies is that forcibly outing individuals can exacerbate issues such as depression, anxiety, and self-esteem problems, potentially leading to long-term emotional scars and negatively impacting their overall quality of life.[36] It is asserted that when LGBTQ+ individuals are denied the opportunity to come out on their terms, they may face prolonged periods of secrecy and shame, which can be detrimental to their mental health.

Additionally, critics highlight that the parental rights movement's insistence on parental control over a child's disclosure of their LGBTQ+ identity can perpetuate discrimination and prejudice. By prioritizing parental rights over a child's autonomy, these policies may inadvertently discourage open and honest communication within families, hindering the ability of LGBTQ+ youth to seek support or understanding from their loved ones.[37]

See also

References

  1. ^ Mulligan, Cynthia (11 September 2023). "Ford weighs in on boards telling parents about children's pronouns amid Greenbelt scandal". City News. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b Benchetrit, Jenna (4 April 2023). "How the parental rights movement resurged in response to trans inclusivity in classrooms". CBC. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  3. ^ Mosleh, Omar (30 July 2023). "As two provinces limit pronoun changes in schools, what actually are parents' — and kids' — rights?". Toronto Star. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  4. ^ Alam, Hina (12 June 2023). "New Brunswick child advocate offers critique of province's school LGBTQ policy". Toronto Star. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  5. ^ Wamsley, Laurel (21 October 2022). "What's in the so-called Don't Say Gay bill that could impact the whole country". NPR. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  6. ^ Taylor, Stephanie (31 August 2023). "Saskatchewan, New Brunswick naming changes means 'life or death' for trans kids: Ien". Toronto Star. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  7. ^ Mulligan, Cynthia (11 September 2023). "Ford weighs in on boards telling parents about children's pronouns amid Greenbelt scandal". City News. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  8. ^ Migdon, Brooke (2022-09-30). "Arizona students protest new laws targeting LGBTQ+ community". The Hill. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  9. ^ "Georgia legislators introduce a Florida-style 'Don't Say Gay' bill". NBC News. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  10. ^ Ta, Linh (2023-01-12). ""Don't Say Gay" bill introduced by Iowa Republican leaders". Axios. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  11. ^ "Iowa Legislature - Senate File 2024". www.legis.iowa.gov. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  12. ^ Hope, Jamie A. (December 5, 2022). "Michigan bill mirrors Florida's Parental Rights in Education law". Michigan Capitol Confidential. Archived from the original on March 21, 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-21.
  13. ^ ""Don't say gay" bill a hot issue in Mo". KFVS-TV. 25 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  14. ^ "House Bill 616 | 134th General Assembly | Ohio Legislature". www.legislature.ohio.gov. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  15. ^ Rosa-Figueroa, Alex (27 April 2022). ""Don't Say Gay" law filed in Oklahoma". KSWO-TV. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  16. ^ "Session 124 - (2021-2022) - South Carolina Legislature". Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  17. ^ "Not just Florida. Missouri and a wave of other states propose so-called 'Don't Say Gay' bills". KCUR 89.3 - NPR in Kansas City. 2022-04-11. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  18. ^ "In some states, versions of 'Don't Say Gay' bills have been around for awhile". PBS NewsHour. 2022-04-21. Archived from the original on 2023-02-19. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  19. ^ "Alabama HB322 | 2022 | Regular Session". LegiScan. Archived from the original on 2022-11-14. Retrieved 2022-11-14.
  20. ^ Ibrahim, Hadeel (23 August 2023). "N.B. digs in on rules for teachers and name, pronoun use of LGBTQ students". CBC. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  21. ^ Simes, Jeremy (22 August 2023). "Saskatchewan government says schools must seek parental consent for name, pronoun change". National Post. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  22. ^ Cohen, Ben (10 September 2023). "Doug Ford takes aim at Ontario school boards over 'indoctrinating' students on gender identity". Toronto Star. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  23. ^ Mulligan, Cynthia (11 September 2023). "Ford weighs in on boards telling parents about children's pronouns amid Greenbelt scandal". City News. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  24. ^ Aguilar, Bryann (8 September 2023). "Ford says it's important parents are informed about children's decisions amid debate over pronouns in schools". CP24. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  25. ^ "Conservative grassroots vote against surgical, pharmaceutical care for transgender kids". CTV News. 9 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  26. ^ Cullen, Catherine (28 August 2023). "Poilievre says schools should leave LGBTQ issues to parents". CBC. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  27. ^ a b "Florida Parents and Students Challenge "Don't Say Gay" Law as Harmful and Unconstitutional". Family Equality Council. March 31, 2022. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  28. ^ Anton, Jessie (5 September 2023). "Sask. teachers prepare to navigate new name, pronoun policy as school year begins". CBC. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  29. ^ Vera, Amir; Alvarado, Caroll (March 7, 2022). "Florida students participate in massive walkout to protest the 'Don't Say Gay' bill". CNN. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  30. ^ Luneau, Delphine (March 28, 2022). "BREAKING: Human Rights Campaign, Equality Florida Vow to Fight for Full Repeal of Vile, Dangerous New Law Signed by Florida Governor DeSantis". Human Rights Campaign. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
  31. ^ "Business Statement on Anti-LGBTQ State Legislation". Human Rights Campaign. Archived from the original on 2023-02-15. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
  32. ^ "Transgender youth: 'Forced outing' bills make schools unsafe". AP NEWS. 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2023-05-12.
  33. ^ Austen, Andrea; Wellington, Adrian Alex (January 1995). "Outing: The Supposed Justifications". Canadian Journal of Law & Jurisprudence. 8 (1): 83–105. doi:10.1017/S084182090000309X. ISSN 0841-8209. S2CID 157003926.
  34. ^ Diaz, Jaclyn (28 March 2022). "Florida's governor signs controversial law opponents dubbed 'Don't Say Gay'". NPR. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  35. ^ "'Don't Say Gay' bill becomes law in Florida, banning sexual orientation instruction from K-3". CBC. 28 March 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  36. ^ Kline, NS; Griner, SB; Neelamegam, M; Webb, NJ; Morales, JJ; Rhodes, SD (2022). "Responding to "Don't Say Gay" Laws in the US: Research Priorities and Considerations for Health Equity". Sexuality research & social policy : journal of NSRC : SR & SP. 19 (4): 1397–1402. doi:10.1007/s13178-022-00773-0. PMID 36406660.
  37. ^ Ibrahim, Hadeel (22 June 2023). "5 questions answered about the LGBTQ school policy debate". CBC. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
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