I’m a teacher, and I am gay.
Under Florida law, I’m not allowed to say that I married.
I’m not allowed to say I have a partner, even if kids ask.
I’m required to pretend to be straight, and it gets out I am gay, I could lose my job if parents complain.
How is their teacher being married equivalent to teaching children about sex? Being married doesn’t make me a sexual pervert.
Why does my simple existence and proximity to children to make me somehow a threat to the point where I need to hide my identity?
No, I don’t teach about queer issues. I’m actually a math teacher, so it’s not like it comes up. But when kids make hate jokes about being queer I shut it down.
Kids do get curious. But I’m expected to hide a big part of myself in the classroom as if I am toxic, if I were in Florida. I feel like this bill sets up discrimination against queer teachers.