Live-post thread for MO Senate Education and Workforce Committee Hearing - 2023-02-07 - Specifically SB134: https://senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=44406
#MissouriPolitics #MOPolitics #LGBTQRights #TransRights
#LGBTQ #Education
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Committee is currently hearing comments on SB34, which would allow public schools to offer an elective course on the Hebrew Scriptures and/or the Old and New testaments. As it is an elective course, I don't have a dog in this fight, so am not going to try to post about these comments.
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The KC Star just published an article about SB134 "MO bill bans LGBTQ discussion in all grades, going further than Florida’s 'Don’t Say Gay' law" (https://www.kansascity.com/article272194893.html) - unfortunately it's paywalled as is everything else at the Star.
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Ok, preliminary business out of the way - will limit speakers to two minutes - alternating pro/con.
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Sen. Moon is claiming media claims with respect to bill are inaccurate. I've read the bill - the media claims are completely accurate.
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Moon is using the American College of Pediatrics to back up his case. Let's see what the Southern Poverty Law Center has to say about the ACP: https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/group/american-college-pediatricians
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The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) is a fringe anti-LGBTQ hate group that masquerades as the premier U.S. association of pediatricians to push anti-LGBTQ junk science, primarily via far-right conservative media and filing amicus briefs in cases related to gay adoption and marriage equality.
Sen. Arthur doing a great job pointing out the things that the bill, as written, would prohibit.
Moon claiming Arthur is stretching the intent of the bill. Arthur saying intent is not relevant, have to look at bill as written.
Arthur says bill would ban sex ed.
Sen. Hoskins (!) pointing out that bill requires licensed mental health provider and most school counselors/teachers don't qualify.
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Hoskins also pointing out that sex ed currently does require parental consent. Moon did not know this.
Hoskins claiming talking about gender identity in workplace is sexual harassment. Hoskins agrees with intent of bill.
Sen. Brattin trying to pull in weird case about teacher creating fake email and helping student transition without support of parents. Claiming it was _district_ policy to force child to transition. (Family moved to Florida (of course).)
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Brattin claiming this is a "big issue we gotta address".
Into testimony: Sarah Thessler (?) moved from KC to Warrensburg - claims child was forced to become trans because 8th grade counselor asked her if she was attracted to boys and she answered no.
Nico Vashi - Attorney advocating for LGBTQ+ rights. "Bill is so vague and broad it will put schools in a position to ..." completely erase all conversation of famililal relationship. Comparing to Florida.
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Teachers leaving state, chilling effects on safe spaces, etc. Koenig cut him off there.
Sen. Razer was late, pointing out how offensive this bill is, and how the bill title "Vulnerable Child Protection Act" has a horrible view of "Vulnerable Child".
"This is the most disrespectful bill I've seen in 17(?) years in Senate."
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Pro: Timothy Faber - MO Baptist Convention - Parents are responsible for child growth and maturity.
Sen. Beck: What about abusive parents?
"An abusive parent still has authority over a child until DFS removes that authority."
This bill would tie hands of teachers etc to talk with kids who have concerns about these issues.
Razer: "I had a friend growing up whose parents wouldn't let him watch the Cosby show because parents didn't want him seeing successful black people."
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Razer: "What's the difference between talking about African Americans and talking about me?"
Faber: Black people were born that way.
Con: Andy Sherman - School Counselor - speaking for Natl School Counselors Assn in MO - Parents nearly always happy that students could feel comfortable sharing concerns on topics with counselors. Koenig cut off for time.
Brattin baiting Sherman into opinions about case he brought up earlier - Sherman not biting.
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Brattin claiming bill doesn't do what media says. (This is BS. Bill does exactly what media says.)
Brattin clearly doesn't understand the idea of mandated reporters.
Koenig asking what penalty in bill is - there is no penalty. _So what is purpose of the bill?_
Razer: If a student comes to you at 10am saying "I think I'm gay", what are the chances they will come home at 3pm to their stuff on the lawn? "High."
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Pro: Andy Wells - No Left Turn in Education - In favor of this bill - it doesn't mention homosexual or heterosexual - this bans all conversation of sexuality in school. Kids shouldn't be talking about sexuality in school. Yelling tangent about DFS and mandatory reporters.
Sen ??? - Questioning Wells article from a couple years ago about MSBA rule about keeping information from students. School districts think it's OK for teachers to have conversations w/o parent involvement.
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Anti: Cassie Brown - Exec Dir. Natl Assn of Social Workers - MO Chapter - To quote Harvey Milk - if teachers influenced the sexuality of their students, there would be a lot more nuns in the country. Teachers and counselors are a lifeline to at-risk LGBTQ+ students, and this bill would tie LCSW hands due to parental permission requirements.
Pro: Lisa Pinett(sp?) - Teachers already morally and ethically bound to have these conversations with parents so what is harm in this bill?
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Razer - Sexual Orientation is not about sex - it's about who I can fall in love with. Teachers should be able to be trusted by students and guide them to a point where _they_ are comfortable telling their parents.
Anti: Katy - PROMO Exec Director - This bill systematically and specifically erases LGBTQ from classrooms. Bill follows lead of "Don't Say Gay" but with broader impact. 17% of FL LGBTQ have already made plans to leave state. Precisely what this bill is trying to do.
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Razer - Do you think people would be upset if we left the state?
Katy - Might be a few.
Hoskins(?) - If a counselor was proselytizing biblical sexuality to your child would you be upset? We have school districts effectively proselytizing gender and sexuality. This is about one side wanting to have unfettered access to students.
_(Ed: Never mind the other side basically already has unfettered access.)_
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Pro - Dr. Mary Byrne (sp?) - talking about MSIP 6 - "I have supreme authority as a parent!" Continues talking over Koenig cut off.
Anti - Dr. Tom Jackson - Parent of a Trans child from KC - I've been here for 3 weeks in a row and keep having these conversation. The only reason I think I'm here yet again is because you have lost. LGBTQ people _are_ being accepted. (Banned books mentions!) These bills are a desperate attempt to hold on to your failing worldview.
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Razer: You're right - they've lost. I don't understand what is so offensive about "me" that they have to keep proposing these bills.
Moon: Schools are about math and science.
Razer: If I were your kid, I would not be comfortable coming out to you. (*gallery applause*) I would hope that there would be people my kid could trust.
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Pro: Jennifer Gore - I don't understand why people claim we're the haters. I don't understand why people don't think parents shouldn't have control over their children.
Anti: Rabbi Slarsky (sp? - I know that's wrong) - Talking about the trans kids he's known as a teacher. Asking can audience remember a formative teacher? Koenig cuts off and threatens removal.
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Pro: Peggy Crabtree Berry - Parent/grandparent - stop pushing things onto our kids.
Anti: Tori - ACLU - This bill would prohibit all discussions of gender including teaching things like Romeo and Juliet. Is a 1st Amend violation. Has receipts.
[I got distracted here. Someone named Jodi in favor.]
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justin ferguson