Stop Woke and Don't Say Gay!
Cruelty is the point. This was a frequent characterization of the Trump administration’s policy of separating children from their families at the US/Mexican border.
The Republican Party’s penchant for cruelty has not diminished post-Trump. The latest exhibit of pure viciousness is on display in Florida, where Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida legislature are taking venomous aim at innocent children.
Two bills, one nicknamed “Stop Woke,” the other “Don’t Say Gay,” are slithering their way through the Florida legislature headed toward DeSantis’s slimy little desk. If your stomach can take it, click on the links I provide to read more about these shameful expressions of cruelty.
“Stop Woke” is a slightly more pungent version of the proliferating efforts to erase truthful Black history from America’s schools. Taking a page from the Texas anti-abortion law, “Stop Woke” will allow parents to sue school districts that purportedly teach Critical Race Theory (CRT) even though there is no school in Florida that teaches or has taught CRT. In the implementation of “Stop Woke,” any mention of systemic racism or other components of anti-racist work can trigger a lawsuit and as-yet-to-be determined sanctions on specific school administrators and teachers.
Two general reasons are offered as justification.
First, that American history is splendid and children should learn to be proud of and loyal to their heritage. Applying this glistening whitewash effectively erases the true history of the 22% of Florida students who are Black. Another 34% are Latinx. Statewide, only 37% of students are white. This justification is, of course, dishonest by any objective measure - but dishonesty has become the Republican way.
The second but not secondary justification is that discussion of racism makes white children uncomfortable. White critics of CRT and anti-racist activism argue that neither they nor their progeny are responsible for slavery and shouldn’t have to apologize for or feel guilty about what happened oh-so-many years ago. Although making white children feel a smidgeon of discomfort over hundreds of years of institutional racism is not a bad thing, that has not been my experience with children.
It was on very rare occasions that a white parent would project their own “discomfort” on his child, who would in turn mention something in school. The vast majority of white kids were empathic and curious, not overwhelmed with guilt. For them, including my three grandchildren, developing empathy through knowledge has instilled a sense of justice and responsibility.
“Don’t Say Gay” is the same poison in a different bottle. It would prohibit any teaching or programming that deals with sexual orientation or gender identity. Anything that drifts outside a heteronormative, gender binary view of human existence is strictly verboten. This law also has provisions for parental tattling on any disobedient teacher. One Amendment, withdrawn for now, added the provision that the school be required to report to parents if a student “came out” or was” outted” by others at school. Nice people, eh?
Perhaps the irony is apparent. In the malicious service of “protecting” vulnerable white kids from a moment of sadness about lynching or horrific history like the Tulsa Massacre, the “Stop Woke” act will throw hundreds of thousands of Black children under the school bus by erasing their heritage and perpetuating the systemic racism they feel every day.
It is less clear whom they aim to protect by the “Don’t Say Gay”legislation. Perhaps it is just pandering to the ignorant cretins who blather about Sodom and Gomorrah and invariably vote Republican.
As it as with separating brown children from their parents, cruelty is the point with this mean-spirited campaign. This particularly egregious Florida legislation is just the tip of the iceberg. Similar efforts are underway at the local level all over the country as right wing bigots try to assert control over school boards and libraries in order to erase the truth of racism and deny the humanity of LGTBQ+ youth.
Cruelty is not a new experience for kids of color and LGTBQ+ youth. Even without the new political cruelty, these young people are at great risk. Perhaps you didn’t know:
During the pandemic, 42% of LGTBQ+ youth have contemplated suicide.
More than half of transgender and nonbinary youth report suicidal thoughts.
80% of trans and nonbinary have experienced bullying and discrimination.
Rates of depression for Black youth have increased 80% in the last decade.
Black youth commit suicide at twice the rate of white youth.
Yes, cruelty is the point - but it is not the only point. By whitewashing history and marginalizing LGTBQ+ youth, the Republican Party is hoping to foster another generation of ignorant citizens who will carry the bigotry into their communities, schools and voting booths.
There is light in this darkness. Despite these efforts, today’s young people - even in Florida - are learning the truth and developing a level of acceptance and understanding far beyond that of previous generations.
These outrageous legislative efforts are the death rattle of frightened white men who see their entitlement slipping away. They are creating a lot of damage on the way down. Shameful.