For decades, conservatives have spread the debunked notion that LGBTQ people are predators who secretly recruit children to keep the LGBTQ agenda alive. Never mind that the vast majority of LGBTQ people are born to cisgender heterosexual parents.
In the late 1970s, California residents voted on Proposition 6, also known as the Briggs Initiative, which would've banned LGBTQ people from teaching in schools, modeled after bans on LGBTQ teachers in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Though the initiative failed, it was born out of citrus spokeswoman and evangelical Christian Anita Bryant's effort that successfully repealed an ordinance in Dade County, Florida protecting LGBTQ teachers from discrimination.
Nearly 50 years later, the dark clouds of that rhetoric are still hanging over the Sunshine State.
Recently, the Florida House passed HB 1557, which critics have dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill. An earlier, broader version of the bill banned any classroom discussion on sexual orientation and gender identity that wasn't "age appropriate," and mandated that teachers out LGBTQ students to their parents, an amendment that was thankfully struck down.
The new version of the bill mandates that:
"Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards."
The bill doesn't define what qualifies as "instruction" and its critics still note the bill's broad language that threatens to make it even harder for LGBTQ students to safely and effectively earn their education.
Florida's far-right Governor, Ron DeSantis, has expressed support for the bill, claiming teachers are urging young students not to "pick [their] gender yet," though he offered no evidence beyond his own anecdotes that these discussions ever took place.
Now, DeSantis' spokesperson—Christina Pushaw—is once again pushing the false and dangerous notion that LGBTQ people and anyone who criticizes the Don't Say Gay bill are secretly grooming young children.
The bill that liberals inaccurately call “Don’t Say Gay” would be more accurately described as an Anti-Grooming Bill.
— Christina Pushaw 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) March 4, 2022
If you’re against the Anti-Grooming Bill, you are probably a groomer or at least you don’t denounce the grooming of 4-8 year old children. Silence is complicity. This is how it works, Democrats, and I didn’t make the rules.
— Christina Pushaw 🇺🇸 (@ChristinaPushaw) March 4, 2022
Never mind that young children—including children who grow up to be LGBTQ—are regularly exposed to heterosexual relationships through things like fairy tales and history lessons, exposure that (unlike LGBTQ relationships) isn't treated as inherently sexual in nature by conservatives.
Pushaw had no trouble advancing the harmful rhetoric that LGBTQ people are "grooming" children, but Florida State Representative Carlos G. Smith, who happens to be gay, pushed back on her claim.
#DeSantis’ spokesperson openly accused opponents of #DontSayGay of being ‘groomers’— aka PEDOPHILES. Bigoted attacks like this against LGBTQ people are the worst of the worst. They’re disgusting and dangerous and have NO PLACE in the Guv’s office. @ChristinaPushaw must resign. https://t.co/UAMjvIELBx pic.twitter.com/xbIXpmX5Eb
— Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) March 6, 2022
That's when Pushaw responded by suggesting Smith himself was a pedophile grooming children.
“A hit dog will holler”.
That’s what #DeSantis spokesperson said when I responded to her accusations that #DontSayGay opponents are PEDOPHILES.
I’m speechless. Republicans and Democrats must condemn these personal and libelous attacks on my character, paid with taxpayer money. pic.twitter.com/N7ozYy8oD5
— Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) March 6, 2022
He was far from the only one disgusted by her antics.
Chrissy, this trope is tired and lacks originality.
It’s clear you you don’t like LGBTQ people- just say that. But no matter how you feel- we are here. We’ve been here. And we aren’t going anywhere. https://t.co/ggBcwOdx3z
— Michele Rayner-Goolsby (She/They) (@micheleforfl) March 6, 2022
@GovRonDeSantis chief spokesperson just called us all pedophiles. We’ve always known the #dontsaygaybill was a about anti-lgbtq animus. She just said the quiet part out loud. DSG is on the Senate floor Mon and students are organizing. Bring your outrage to Tallahassee #flapol https://t.co/Dnal1kdiFs
— Joe Saunders (@JoeSaunders4FL) March 6, 2022
Absolutely disgusting rhetoric coming from the Governor's office. This time, Pushaw accuses opponents of the Don't Say Gay bill of being "groomers."
It is time for Pushaw to resign. https://t.co/CSJ61K6wBg
— Aaron Parnas (@AaronParnas) March 6, 2022
Human decency & respect for those who may see things differently than you should be a basic human quality. But, calling Dem AND Rep who support basic human rights for LGBTQ youth “groomers” aka pedophiles, is a new low @ChristinaPushaw, and as a spox, you SHOULD know better. https://t.co/fSWLTTKBMS
— Shevrin “Shev” Jones (@ShevrinJones) March 6, 2022
This is vile. Though most things she says are vile. https://t.co/Um8kIvybBA
— Rep. Angie Nixon (@AngieNixon) March 6, 2022
The Governor’s Press Secretary just called gays pedophiles. Make no mistake, she speaks for Governor Ron DeSantis. Vote accordingly. https://t.co/SHl9zjAU4y
— Elijah Manley (@iElijahManley) March 6, 2022
Others pointed out the rampant heterosexual "grooming" of children deemed acceptable by swaths of society.
so is this grooming too or is it chill because it’s hetero https://t.co/P1G7SgkIo1 pic.twitter.com/khQdt01f2y
— kait (@thekaiti) March 7, 2022
How about all the disney films where adult men kiss little girls? No problem with that? How about Romeo and Juliet, a straight man marrying a 13-year-old girl and running away with her, resulting in both their deaths? How about you learn the meaning of grooming. https://t.co/07vGSGZ3Se
— kyllie_z 🇺🇦🇵🇸 (@ZKyllie) March 7, 2022
These are the same people that ask 4 year olds if their play ground friends if they’re their boyfriend/girlfriends. https://t.co/82cYW5doWB
— friendly virgo (@Desc_of_Diana) March 6, 2022
They claim gays are "grooming" kids then they dress their babies in these... https://t.co/Zml2P8h4I9 pic.twitter.com/TS82o5xCL8
— Gay Nerd Jock (@gaynerdjock) March 7, 2022
Pushaw continues to double down.
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