Why We Need to Say ‘Gay’ in Classrooms

A few weeks ago, hundreds of high schoolers in Florida staged a walk-out against the state's "Don't Say Gay" bill.

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By Daphne Lee, News Editor A few weeks ago, hundreds of high schoolers in Florida staged a walk-out against the state's "Don't Say Gay" bill. The TikTok footage of boys and girls chanting "We say gay!" made me teary and hopeful.   But regardless of strong backlash and protests, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill into law. Today's Top Story What 'Don't Say Gay' Means to Students and Teachers Florida's Parental Rights in Education law bans classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity for students in kindergarten through third grade. The law will go into effect on July 1.   Critics labeled the legislation as the "Don't Say Gay" law, saying it oppresses freedom of speech and the LGBTQ+ community.   Grace O'Connor, MA, LMFT, a licensed therapist who works with LGBTQ+ youth, said that even if children don't really understand the details of the law, silence is a powerful influence.   "When there's silence, when there's some kind of inherent shame, kids pick up on that," she said. "There's always going to be LGBTQ+ kids in classrooms, it's just whether or not we're going to have them represented."   According to a national survey, around 40% of LGBTQ+ youth reported having seriously considered suicide in the past year. Removing schools as a safe space for LGBTQ+ expression can further harm children's mental health as they mature into adults. Know More Under the new law, parents would be able to sue their kids' schools or teachers if they discuss topics on sexual orientation and gender identity. Several states, including Texas, Alabama, and Ohio, have already taken a page out of Florida's playbook and proposed similar bills. Feel Better LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Florida has filed a complaint against the law, calling the restrictions "offensive and unconstitutional." In the coming weeks, mental health experts have encouraged parents and students to seek communities like LGBTQ+ centers to find support. READ MORE In 2021, nearly half of LGBTQ+ youth wanted mental health counseling, but didn't receive it, according to a national survey by The Trevor Project. Why Genomic Sequencing Is an Important Pandemic Tool Congress finally approved an additional $10 billion in COVID funding, but the much-smaller-than-expected package excluded surveillance programs. Scientists have used genomic sequencing to track new variants and predict surges. In the U.S., public and private labs have come together to boost sequencing capacity nationwide. But the lack of funding might mean that some of these operations will have to scale down—and we might be unprepared for the next wave of the pandemic. READ MORE Permission to Eat More Avocados Eating two servings of avocado every week can slightly lower your heart disease risk, according to a new large-scale study. Avocados are unique from other fruits because they have high levels of fat in addition to being rich in vitamins. Healthy fat from avocados can help us absorb nutrients better and lower our LDL—the "bad" cholesterol. Replacing certain fats like butter, yogurt, and processed meats with avocados are also linked to reduced heart disease risk. READ MORE   In an interview with Verywell, Kristian Morey, RD, LDN, said that avocados are a versatile fruit that can be incorporated into many recipes. Avocados can help us absorb certain nutrients better, particularly fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and. They can help play a protective role in our bodies. If you had absolutely no body fat, you would be very prone to injury. Kristian Morey, RD, LDN Clinical Dietitian at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore   In Other News   ■ Sci-Hub, the Site for Pirated Academic Papers, Is on Trial in India. Rest of World     ■ Methane Emissions Jumped by Record Amount in 2021. The Washington Post     ■ How Rising Sea Levels Are Causing a U.S. Migration Crisis. The Guardian More From Verywell Is Spring Depression Real? READ MORE Are Avocados Good for IBS? READ MORE Why Do Bananas Hurt Your Stomach? READ MORE   How'd we do? If you have any feedback, send us a note at   feedback@verywell.com.         You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Verywell Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.   A DOTDASH MEREDITH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2022 verywellhealth.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy