In each case, teachers are being deputized as culture war cops, called upon to police their own behavior, and that of their students. In Alabama, the governor signed a law last month requiring schools to notify parents if their child is questioning their gender identity. Meanwhile, in Texas, the governor has directed schools to report students who are receiving gender-affirming care, such as hormone blockers, as cases of child abuse. Lawmakers in at least 20 states have introduced similar bills. Supporters of the “Don’t Say Gay” law, officially titled “Parental Rights in Education,” say they’re seeking to protect parents’ rights to decide how their children are raised and prevent teachers from “indoctrinating” students into liberal beliefs.
Already, some students are asking teachers what they’ll be allowed to talk about, Woods said. But he worries that students won’t feel comfortable turning to him for help. Woods said he won’t stop having those conversations when Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, which limits classroom discussion about sexual orientation and gender identity, takes effect this summer. Michael Woods, a high school teacher in Florida, worries that LGBTQ students will no longer come to him for support.