Florida is targeting LGTQ+ kids with laws that would shame, bully, and stigmatize them. It is not about parental rights; it’s about censorship and mandates of whether public schools can allow their teachers the right to teach or for trans kids to participate in sports. Teachers, who already are stressed, are now put at risk of legal action for even discussing gender issues in the classroom. What’s happening in Florida is only one example of what more than 200 proposed laws in other states are doing in the “culture wars” agenda of the radical right. It is part of the strategy to use gender identity as a wedge issue in their political gamesmanship.

This is a Trojan Horse political move to target a specific group of youth without regard to the consequences of the legislation. It will only increase the number of LGBTQ+ children who commit suicide because they have been ostracized. The public schools should be a safe place and not a war zone. We already have enough of that with the national outbreak of gun violence.

It is only one aspect of the strategies of the radical right to promote conspiracy theories to support their agenda of victimhood. They also use “dog whistle” language to promote a white supremacy agenda among those who support a backlash against the nation having had a black president. They are fighting the Civil War all over again, even to the extent of using the Confederate Flag as their banner.

Where is the morality of dividing the nation through political stances that inflame ancient prejudices? Are some politicians willing to do absolutely anything to win no matter how reprehensible? Unfortunately, yes. We saw the example of Senator McConnell, who was willing to resort to any nefarious tactic to be able to stack the U.S. Supreme Court.

Our children already have been victimized by the NRA. Are we going to allow the radical right to add to their injuries and deaths?

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