Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to override a governors veto of a bill that prohibits classroom discussion of gender and sexual identity in K-12 public schools.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any school employees or presenters in a k-12 school to engage in the following discussions (Sec. 1):

• topics of sexual orientation or gender identity that deviates from state content standards or curricula approved by publics schools;

• topics of sexual orientation or gender identity during extracurriculars, athletics, or social activities under the jurisdiction of a school; and

• where school employees or presenters discuss their own sexual orientation or gender identity.

• Specifies that students can seek out guidance from a teacher or license mental health professional outside of class hours if they have prior parental consent (Sec. 1). 

• Requires school employees to use either a student’s name as listed on their birth certificate or another name authorized by a student’s parent (Sec. 1). 

• Exempts school employees or students from using pronouns for any person that differ from pronouns that reflect the sex indicated on a person’s birth certificate if doing so would violate sincerely held religious beliefs of the student or school employee (Sec. 1). 

• specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the governor (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vetoed by Governor John Bel Edwards

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that prohibits classroom discussion of gender and sexual identity in K-12 public schools.

Highlights:

• Prohibits any school employees or presenters in a k-12 school to engage in the following discussions (Sec. 1):

• topics of sexual orientation or gender identity that deviates from state content standards or curricula approved by publics schools;

• topics of sexual orientation or gender identity during extracurriculars, athletics, or social activities under the jurisdiction of a school; and

• where school employees or presenters discuss their own sexual orientation or gender identity.

• Specifies that students can seek out guidance from a teacher or license mental health professional outside of class hours if they have prior parental consent (Sec. 1). 

• Requires school employees to use either a student’s name as listed on their birth certificate or another name authorized by a student’s parent (Sec. 1). 

• Exempts school employees or students from using pronouns for any person that differ from pronouns that reflect the sex indicated on a person’s birth certificate if doing so would violate sincerely held religious beliefs of the student or school employee (Sec. 1). 

• specifies that the provisions of this bill shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the governor (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text