Missouri legislators are proposing Don’t Say Gay Laws that will impact our LGBTQ+ youth all across the state. If these laws are passed, it will ban any educators in public schools around the state from talking about gender identity and other LGBTQ issues with students from grades K-12. The only exception would be from a licensed mental health care provider, and only with parent approval. This would also mean that LGBTQ clubs at schools (such as Gay Straight Alliance or Sexuality And Gender Alliance clubs) wouldn’t be possible, since an adult sponsor is needed.

 LGBTQ+ youth already face extreme discrimination from their peers and families everywhere in the U.S., and are more prone to serious mental health issues because of bullying and other types of non-acceptance. Since many youth are not accepted within their families, sometimes their only support system comes from school through LGBTQ clubs or by talking to a teacher. If these laws are passed, these students would not be able to have this support system, which could lead to them feeling more alone and misunderstood. 

Since the beginning of 2023, 336 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been proposed all over the nation. If we allow them to pass these Don’t Say Gay Laws, they will not stop there. We have to act quickly before legislators in Missouri, and all across the United States, continue to overstep their positions and create even more restrictions in an attempt to control the LGBTQ+ community. We will not be silenced.

Picture from: nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna69688