Controversial bill seeks to limit LGBTQ+ content in federally-funded institutions

Legislation introduced by House Republicans has been criticized by some as a national "Don't Say Gay" bill, inspired by Florida's controversial law that prohibits teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through third-grade classes. 

If the federal bill becomes law, which is unlikely in the current Congress, it could have broader effects, affecting events and literature at any federally-funded institution, as well as instruction in schools. 

The "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act," introduced by Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., and co-sponsored by 32 other Republicans, aims to prohibit federal funds from being used to develop or fund any sexually-oriented program, event, or literature for children under the age of 10. 

The language in the proposed legislation groups together sexual orientation and gender identity with sexually explicit content such as pornography and stripping. It would also allow parents and guardians to sue government officials, agencies, and private entities if a child under 10 is "exposed" to such materials. 

The bill complains that some school districts have implemented sex ed programming for kids under 10 and calls out events such as drag queen story hours in libraries, which it describes as "sexually oriented." 

House Republicans have introduced a bill referred to as the "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act," which aims to prohibit the use of federal funds to create, facilitate, or fund any sexually-oriented program, event, or literature for children under 10 years old. 

The bill encompasses topics such as sexual orientation and gender identity, along with sexual content such as pornography and stripping. Supporters of the bill argue that it is common sense, with the Democrat Party and their allies accused of attempting to involve young children in sexual imagery and radical gender ideology. 

The bill follows GOP-driven "parental rights" measures that have emerged in several states, including the "Parental Rights in Education" bill in Florida that banned classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in grades K-3. 

Critics of the bill argue that it aims to marginalize the LGBTQ community and their families, with some referring to it as the national "Don't Say Gay" bill. The proposed legislation's prospects are low in the current Congress, given that it is solely a Republican effort and Democrats have a functional majority in each chamber. 

Even if the bill were to pass in a Republican-controlled House and Senate, it would be vetoed by President Biden. LGBTQ groups, such as the Human Rights Campaign, have spoken out against the bill and warned of its potential effects, with the proposed legislation being criticized as a cruel attempt to stigmatize and marginalize the community. 

Activists have also cautioned against minimizing the potential impact of the bill, stating that it goes beyond classroom instruction and far beyond the "Don't Say Gay" bills of the past.