Overview:
The Georgia General Assembly introduced Senate Bill 88 a bill that would prevent teachers from discussing gender in classrooms under certain circumstances.
On February 16 the Georgia General Assembly introduced Senate Bill 88 a bill that would prevent teachers from discussing gender in classrooms under certain circumstances. Sponsored by Sen. Carden Summers it was brought before the chamber’s committee on education and youth.
According to a report by WABE, Senator Carden Summers (R) sponsored the bill, saying, “If [kids] are going to be taught or talked about gender in the classrooms — under the age of 16 — a parent or guardian should be aware of the conversation,” he said about his bill. “A parent has a right to allow it or not allow it.” during the Georgia Senate Education and Youth Higher Education Committee meeting on February 9th.
Its first summary of the bill reads as follows:
“To amend Article 1 of Chapter 7 of Title 19 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions regarding parent and child relationship generally, so as to prohibit certain actions by an adult acting in loco parentis with respect to child privacy; to provide for definitions; to prohibit providing to, obtaining from, or discussing with a child information of a sensitive nature except under certain conditions; to amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to student health, so as to provide for a student’s legal name in the official school record; to provide for requirements relating to changing a student’s gender in the official school record; to prohibit the modification of a child’s official school record with respect to gender without consent of the child’s parents or legal guardians; to prohibit engaging in instruction of a child when dressed in a specific manner; to provide for applicability; to provide for violations; to provide for related matters; to provide for a short title; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.”
Georgia Equality, an advocacy organization for LGBTQ people and allies, opposes the bill. Its talking points surrounding the bill say that it uses vague language to censor conversations about LGBTQ people in schools, calling it a “threat to freedom of expression. “They also say that the “opt-in” requirement unnecessarily burdens teachers, and parent confirmation requirements invade family privacy.
The section titled “Impact for Georgia Students and Teachers” highlights that optimal learning occurs when students can concentrate on their studies without concerns about discrimination based on their identity or background.
As of Crossover Day (February 29), Senate Bill 88 failed to cross over.