Sir, – Emer Martin criticises a law introduced by Florida governor Ron DeSantis which she calls the “don’t say gay” law, describing it and other similar measures as part of an “ideological war” which will endanger lives (“In California, we’re watching Ron DeSantis’s assault on LGBTQ+ rights with horror”, Opinion & Analysis, May 23rd). However, she fails to outline what this law entails.
The Parental Rights in Education Bill prohibits teachers from giving lessons to children from kindergarten to third grade (so from ages five to nine) about sexual orientation or gender identity. What exactly does Ms Martin find objectionable about this?
As a gay man, I find it bizarre that anyone would believe that children under the age of nine would be taught about adult sexual relationships of any kind, be they heterosexual or homosexual, let alone that they should be taught about gender conversion therapy or sex change procedures. Opinion polls show strong majority support for the law in Florida, with less than a third of voters against, and I suspect Irish voters would agree.
The fact that such a common-sense law is viewed as dangerous shows how unhinged the discourse on these topics has become, and how increasingly transgender issues are going far beyond what the gay and lesbian movement is willing to be associated with. – Yours, etc,
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THOMAS RYAN, BL
Harolds Cross,
Dublin 6W.