AUSTIN, Tex. — The Lieutenant Governor of Texas said he plans to prioritize legislation modeled after Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced his plans via a campaign email, the Texas Tribune reported.
Florida’s law prohibits instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, a policy that has drawn intense national scrutiny from critics who argue it marginalizes LGBTQ people.
Texas’ legislative session doesn’t begin until January of 2023. However, Patrick said the issue will be addressed in Education Committee hearings, scheduled to happen before then.
Similar to Texas’ restrictive abortion law, where people can report others for getting or performing an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, with Florida’s law, parents can sue a school district if they believe it has broken the law.
Patrick’s announcement comes as Texas Republicans fight to keep critical race theory out of schools and as Texas Governor Greg Abbott has said that parents should have more rights surrounding their children’s education.
