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During debate in the Florida Senate about the so-called "Don't Say Gay Bill" on Monday, state Republican Senator Dennis Baxley spoke so circuitously about the GOP's reasoning for the bill he completely contradicted himself and revealed their real rationale.
Undoing all of the claims by himself and his fellow Republicans the "Parental Rights in Education" bill in no way targeted LGBTQ+ kids or adults, Baxley revealed he brought the bill to the Senate because he is concerned by the trend of kids coming out during school, a change which has likely occurred because kids who are members of the LGBTQ+ community now feel safer revealing their identities to their peers than previous generations did.
During a speechthat took "hours" according to one CBS4 reporter, Baxley said:
"My son's a psychiatrist and I said, 'Why is everybody now all about coming out when you’re in school?' And there really is a dynamic of concern of how much of these are genuine […] experiences and how many of them are just kids trying on different kinds of things they hear about."
"So my question is, simply, are we encouraging this or eliminating it by putting emphasis on it?"
"There’s something wrong with how we’re emphasizing this, and all of a sudden overnight they’re a celebrity. […] I know parents are very concerned about the departure of the core belief systems and values."
After hours of denying his bill singled out gays, Senator @dennisbaxley admitted the so-called \u201cDon\u2019t Say Gay\u201d bill was drafted because he was personally concerned so many kids today identify as gay and see themselves as \u201ccelebrities.\u201d @CBSMiamipic.twitter.com/VI9cGiBNiN— Jim DeFede (@Jim DeFede) 1646701733
Many on Twitter were incredulous at the thought kids don't already know LGBTQ+ people exist, or kids would come out just for clout.
pic.twitter.com/w7HuiFM5EZ— Gaye Allyn (@Gaye Allyn) 1646714593
It's a super fun and easy thing to do, just for kicks! Coming out is also universally embraced, according to this guy— Ramonster \ud83d\udc79 (@Ramonster \ud83d\udc79) 1646704703
We expect these kids to know exactly what they are going to do in their future by the time they are in HS so they can have the perfect transcript to get into the correct college with the major that will get them a job, BUT they can\u2019t question their parents morals? Or make them\u2026— Emily Talton (@Emily Talton) 1646706863
It\u2019s an election year so LGBTQ Americans become punching bags. Happens each election cycle - me and my peers become a political football and the gop never fail rile their constituents up by creating LGBTQ fiction and stoking fear and hate. Brings them to the ballot box— Inga Good Trouble (@Inga Good Trouble) 1646705721
Baxley also claimed teachers were "socially engineering" in their classrooms.
"I became concerned when people started sending me some curriculum guides that were being used in classrooms to explore these issues. I’m always very anxious when it looks like we’re moving away from educating and beginning to just socially engineer people as to how they’re supposed to think, feel and do."
Maybe cuz kids feel safer coming out now rather than years ago. It\u2019s not encouraging anything.— Abbe Breiter (@Abbe Breiter) 1646710563
Many chose to simply ridicule Baxley on Twitter.
Somebody needs to follow this guy around all day shouting GAY! GAY! GAY!pic.twitter.com/4TslIRqYTo— Anna Adams \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2 \ud83c\udfc0 \ud83d\udd06 (@Anna Adams \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2 \ud83c\udfc0 \ud83d\udd06) 1646706570
Perhaps they have parents who love them unconditionally and encourage them to be their authentic selves. I guess he would prefer it to remain like it was in "his days" which clearly didn't work. Elections are important people. The only way to really fight against this.— Where is that Alternate Universe (@Where is that Alternate Universe) 1646707361
Sounds like right wing social engineering to me— Go Blue Florida | #RemoveRon (@Go Blue Florida | #RemoveRon) 1646708558
Now I know why my son is gay. He graduated from MIT and is a Vice President of a Software company.— Johanna Davila (@Johanna Davila) 1646730260
The Florida legislature approved Baxley's bill.
GOP Governor DeSantis is expected to sign it into law.