'Don't Say Gay' bill: What provisions of Republican-backed proposed law can affect whole US?

A national bill, which has been termed as "Don't Say Gay" by critics, has been proposed by House Republicans, modelled after the contentious Florida law that forbids teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade classes.

The federal bill's ramifications may be much wider-ranging, covering not only events and literature at any federal and state institution but also education in schools, which is doubtful under the present Congress.

Rep. Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, proposed the bill on Tuesday, and 32 other Republicans signed on as cosponsors. It is originally called "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act".


Johnson referred to the legislation as "common sense" and charged that the Democratic Party and their cultural allies were fighting a pointless war to expose young children to pornographic or sexual material and radical gender ideology.

The purpose of the law is to prohibit the use of federal funds to plan, implement, facilitate or sponsor any programme, event, or material that is sexually oriented for children under the age of 10, and for other purposes.

The phrasing of the proposed regulation combines discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity with pornographic and stripping-related sexual content.




Federal facilities would not be allowed to host or promote any "sexually-oriented" programmes, events, or literature, and guardians and parents would be able to bring legal action against public officials, non-profit organisations, and for-profit businesses if a child under 10 was "exposed" to such materials.

The Florida law has been called 'Don't Say Gay' by opponents, who claim that its goal is to marginalise LGBTQ persons and their families.

Related FAQs

1. Who proposed the bill?.
   Rep. Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, proposed the bill on Tuesday
2. How many Republicans signed on as cosponsors?
   32 other Republicans signed on as cosponsors.