February 11, 2023  

"Reason Magazine is a libertarian magazine that you wonder if they think sex with animals is okay, so keep in mind the editorial angle of the source, " says Eugene Delgaudio president of Public Advocate.

Reason Magazine reports:

Missouri's version of Florida's "Don't Say Gay" bill says only licensed mental health professionals can talk to students about sexual orientation or gender identity. The proposal, which got a hearing in front of the Missouri Senate Education and Workforce Development Committee earlier this week, "would ban teachers from discussing gender identity or sexual orientation at any grade level, no matter the class subject," reports The Kansas City Star:

"It would limit any public or charter school staff member from discussing gender identity or sexual orientation unless they are a mental health care provider and have permission from a parent.

It would go further than Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law that passed last year. In Florida, the law prohibits instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third grade, but Missouri's does not specify a grade level.

Critics of the bill say it would prohibit LGBTQ teachers from discussing their spouses because it could indicate their sexual orientation. They say it could also ban books from being taught if they include LGBTQ characters or topics, and forbid discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in health classes.

Missouri state Sen. Mike Moon, the Ash Grove Republican behind the bill, said the intention of the bill is to allow mental health professionals to counsel students instead of staff members who may not be trained properly," reports the Kansas City Star.

Moon is calling it the "Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act." You can find the full text of the bill (S.B. 134) here. A legislative summary says it would prohibit "any school nurse, counselor, teacher, principal, or other personnel at a public or charter school from discussing gender identity or sexual orientation with a student unless such person is a licensed mental health provider with prior parental permission."

FULL COPY OF THE BILL, S.B.134