When Rep. Steve Cookson, R-District 153, introduced HB 2051, otherwise known as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, he quickly found himself facing a lot of opposition.
The sentence-long bill would prohibit all discussion of sexual orientation except when concerning human reproduction in Missouri public schools. It would also ban any extracurricular activity that discusses LGBTQ issues.
“Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, no instruction, material, or extracurricular activity sponsored by a public school that discusses sexual orientation other than in scientific instruction concerning human reproduction shall be provided in any public school,” the bill states.
The Missouri National Education Association is standing in opposition to the legislation, according to a news release. The NMEA said the legislation interferes with teachers’ efforts to prevent bullying.
“Many students are bullied because of their sexual orientation,” it states. “Legislation like the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, proposed by Rep. Steve Cookson shackles educator’s efforts to prevent bullying in our public schools.”
Cookson is a retired educator and award-winning superintendent, according to his Representative biography. He said in a news release his intent behind the bill was to “protect the moral values” of Missouri families.
“In a time when our public schools continue to struggle financially, we want their focus to be solely on core education issues such as math, science and reading,” he said. “And not on topics that are better left for discussion in the home at the discretion of parents.”
Cookson clarified that the bill would not prevent students’ struggling with their sexual orientation from talking to a school counselor. He said the bill would only require schools to focus on “the curriculum parents expect their children to learn when they send them to school each day.”
The website [“It’s OK to Say Gay!”](http://oktosaygay.org/) was launched in response to Cookson’s legislation, calling it “a desperate tactic by frightened, bigoted, cynical individuals who are terrified at the advancement the LGBT community has made in breaking down the barriers to full and equal treatment under the law.”
Rep. Zach Wyatt, R-District 2, said he opposes the legislation on the website.
“Students not only need, but have a right to feel safe when they go to school,” he said. “They should be able to speak with teachers, counselors, or administrators when they get bullied. This bill would make that illegal.”
The bill was referred to the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee on April 18. A hearing for the bill has not been scheduled, and it is not on the House calendar.
Neither Cookson nor the bill’s co-sponsor, Rep. Dwight Scharnhorst, R-District 93, could be reached for comment.
