Florida Democrat Files Bill to Block Parental Rights Law That Opponents Say Keeps Children From “Ideas”

The “Children’s Bill of Rights Act” filed by a Florida Democrat could potentially strip away a parent’s right to stop their child from accessing sexually explicit material, or gender, or racial literature.

House Bill 217, filed on Jan. 17 by Michele Rayner-Goolsby (D), appears to be the Left’s answer to the Parental Rights in Education law championed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The children’s rights bill would give a child the right to receive “ideas of any kind” You can communicate orally, in writing or by using art forms.

It gives the child privacy rights and allows him or her to keep his/her identity private. However, it also gives the state the power. “restore” the child’s right to identity if violated.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Governor, displays the signed Parental Rights in Education Act flanked with elementary school students, during a news conference at Classical Preparatory school in Shady hills, Fla., March 28, 2022. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

According to the bill, this access should be “with guidance and supervision from the parent or parents” However, the parent cannot deny access to ideas to the child.

The children’s rights bill would clash with the Parental Rights in Education law, passed in 2022, dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay Act” Liberal opponents. It banned classroom instruction in sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade.

The parental rights law also requires school districts to notify parents if there is a change in services from the school regarding a child’s mental, emotional or physical health, or well-being.

It builds upon the Parents’ Bill of Rights legislation passed in 2021, where parents direct their child’s upbringing, education, health care, and mental health.

Alex Nester (political director of Parents Defending Education Action) stated that the bill would undermine parental rights in Florida.

If passed, the so-called Children’s Bill of Rights Act could allow state agencies to assume responsibility over a minor child who is “denied” Ability to express certain elements of one’s identity or is considered a characteristic of a person. “vulnerable youth” Based on a “lack of positive adult relationships,” Nester said.

Parents protest outside Davis Joint Unified school District offices in protest at Rachel Pepper’s talk. Rachel Pepper is co-author of “The Transgender Child,” Davis, Calif. on January 11, 2023. (Courtesy Of Our Duty)

“Unfortunately, bad actors seek to undo those achievements,” He said. “This bill, at its core, seeks to dismantle one of the foundational elements of our society: the family unit.”

Nester said activists have attempted to strip the rights of parents to be involved in their child’s education and lives.

HB 217 would block parents from intervening if they believe their child’s pursuit of switching genders would have catastrophic consequences for the child’s well-being, he said.

Gender activists across the country and Florida have been working to give children the freedom to make life-changing choices without parental input.

Activists claim that affirming a child’s transgender identity and “gender-affirming care” Children at higher risk of suicide have better mental health.

Many school districts have gone along with the Biden administration’s recommendation to recognize transgender student protection in schools, saying they must allow students to use opposite-sex pronouns and names and use the bathroom of their gender identity.

Transgender activists and community members protest an announcement by Trump’s administration that repeals an Obama-era decision allowing transgender students access to school bathrooms that match their gender identity, at Stonewall Inn in New York on February 23, 2017. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

School districts have, in many cases, bought into the Biden administration’s push to keep a student’s gender switch a secret from parents as a privacy right.

Many parents also rejected the idea of schools teaching gender and race ideologies, instead focusing on education.

In 2022, conservative parties ran candidates in multiple states in order to retake control of local school boards in an effort to curb progressive social justice in education.

DeSantis endorsed over 30 conservative school board candidate candidates in local races last year.

The proposed children’s rights legislation would change the oversight from a cabinet appointed by the governor to a commission.

The bill states that the Speaker of House, President of Senate and various agencies would appoint the commissioner.

Moy urged lawmakers from both sides to come together and work for the common good. “kill” the bill—and defend the rights of all Florida parents.

A poster in Maine’s RSU 22 school suggests that you come up with a new gender. (Photo courtesy of a student

The children’s rights bill has several mechanisms to protect children from accessing and pursuing “ideas.”

“Any restrictions imposed upon the exercise of the child’s rights may only be by law and as necessary for the respect of the rights or reputations of others, or the protection of public order,” The bill states.

It protects the child legally. “capricious, or unlawful interference or attacks” on the child’s privacy, family, home, and correspondence with parents.

Children would have the right to preserve their identity, including nationality, name, and family relations as recognized by law—or else the state would step in.

The bill provides that services are provided by the state or other governmental agencies for children. “shall respect the rights and duties of the parents to provide direction to the child in the exercise of his or her rights in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities and needs of the child.”

“If passed, House Bill 217 would open the door for sweeping subversions of parental rights in the Sunshine state,” Moy stated.

Michele Rayner-Goolsby was the one who filed the bill. She did not respond to an email requesting comment.

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