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The Political Scene | The New Yorker

The Queer Children’s Books Targeted By the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

The New Yorker

Barack, Washington, Wickenden, News, Obama, Politics, Wnyc, Lizza, President

4.33.9K Ratings

🗓️ 14 July 2022

⏱️ 37 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Florida’s so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill took effect this month. Signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, it limits the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in grade school classrooms, in some cases banning it completely. It threatens the ability of teachers to affirm of the existence of LGBTQ students, and to share materials, including books, that depict or discuss queer lives. The legislation has inspired a number of copycat laws across the country, including in Texas, South Dakota, Indiana, Tennessee, and Alabama. For a special digital-only issue about the notion of family, Jessica Winter, a New Yorker writer and editor, has taken an in-depth look at the history of queer children’s literature, and the threats it faces in today’s political climate. She joins guest host Tyler Foggatt to discuss what these books mean to LGBTQ families, why the right finds them so dangerous, and how their banning will affect the lives and education of young people.

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Transcript

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1:12.7

Welcome to the political scene. I'm Tyler Foggett, a senior editor at The New Yorker.

1:20.5

Florida's so-called don't-say gay bill took effect this month. It's a drastic piece of

1:25.0

legislation that limits a discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity in grade school classrooms,

1:30.3

in some cases banning it completely.

1:32.3

It also threatens the ability of teachers to share materials, including books, that depict or discuss queer lives.

1:39.3

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis justified the bill as necessary to counter quote-unquote woke gender ideology.

1:46.7

It has also inspired a number of copycat laws across the country.

1:50.6

When LGBTQ students in states like South Dakota, Indiana, Tennessee, and Alabama return to school this fall,

1:57.8

they'll walk into a very different learning and social environment.

2:01.5

Jessica Winter, my colleague at The New Yorker, has been following these laws, the books that are being targeted, and their effects on the lives and education of young people.

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