Things are getting exponentially worse in Florida with GOP lawmakers pushing for another legislation, dubbed “Don’t Say Period.”
For now, it will prevent children and teens from learning about the menstrual cycle before sixth grade.
This goes against the advice of medical professionals who believe children should learn about puberty and the changes it brings before they reach it.
Many girls get periods before sixth grade
Another issue is that many girls get their periods when they are 8 or 9, way before starting sixth grade.
And though the bill does not say it will ban talking about periods, Republican state Rep. Stan McClain said his bill would include restrictions on girls talking about their menstrual cycles.
Democratic Rep. tried to reason with McClain
Democratic state Rep. Ashley Gantt reminded McClain that girls get periods before sixth grade. She asked whether the bill would ban those girls from talking about them.
Gantt asked, “So if little girls experience their menstrual cycle in fifth or fourth grade, would that prohibit conversations from them since they are in a grade lower than sixth grade?”
McClain responded, “It would.”
DeSantis fights “woke” ideology
Banning period talk is another intriguing bill that goes against “woke” ideologies DeSantis despises.
Other laws included gender talk, the so-called “don’t say gay” bill, and erasing diversity from books. Additionally, many books have been banned, which begs the question: how will children learn about real life outside classrooms?
Social media users thought this was a ridiculous step
A Reddit poster wrote, “That’s not even basic sex education, that’s basic female health.” To this, someone answered, “If it were male health, it would just be called health.”
Another wondered, “Why do republicans not want women to know or understand basic female anatomy?”
To this, a person replied, “Because it’s harder to report a crime if you don’t know it’s inappropriate, the party of kid fu–ers wants uneducated kids who don’t cry to the media and news and law.”
Many argued this may be the first step towards removing girls from schools, as someone concluded, “Florida is governed with scientific ignorance and religious bigotry, misogyny, homophobia, and racism.”
This could backfire, ask parents in Utah
A parent in Utah asked for the Bible to be banned, writing, “Get this PO-N out of our schools!” They added it has no value for the minors and goes in line with the Utah law passed in 2022 to ban any books containing “pornographic or indecent” content from Utah schools and libraries.
In a petition, the unnamed parent added, “If the books that have been banned so far are any indication for way lesser offenses, this should be a slam dunk.”
What can you do?
Florida Planned Parenthood shared the conversation between two state Representatives, adding:
“Call and urge your Florida elected official to vote NO on the Don’t Say Period bill (HB 1069) and ask themto support insteadt a PROACTIVE policy like HB 389 & SB 334, that would require public schools to provide menstrual hygiene products at no charge.”
🆘
— Florida Planned Parenthood Action (@PPactionFL) March 15, 2023
Watch Florida State Rep. @StanMcClain tell Rep. @Gantt4Florida that his bill prohibits young people from talking about their period….
WHAT?!?! pic.twitter.com/PoEgRm4sK0