Republican state representative Stan McClain’s proposal, which has the support of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, would forbid students up to the sixth grade from having conversations about menstruation.
A draught proposal being considered for introduction by Florida’s Republican lawmakers would tighten the state’s prohibition on sex education in the classroom. This would include forbidding girls in schools from discussing their periods.
The Florida governor Ron DeSantis supports the Republican state representative Stan McClain’s proposal.
The rule would permit instruction on “acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), sexually transmitted illnesses, or health education” exclusively to children in sixth through twelfth grades, who are typically between the ages of 12 and 18.
Later, McClain affirmed that the legislation would effectively prevent kids from discussing menstrual cycles until sixth grade, which is also often the grade at which girls normally experience their first period.
According to The Guardian, McClain has justified the law by claiming that it will allow parents more control over the curriculum and make sex education more standard across the state.
In response to objections, he stated that the proposal would continue to be subject to revisions in the future.
Democrats have not been fond of the restriction on menstruation topics.
Democratic state lawmaker Ashley Gantt questioned: “So if small girls start having periods in fifth or fourth grade, will that stop them from having talks since they are in a grade lower than sixth grade?”
“It would,” McClain responded.
“Imagine a young girl in the fourth grade seeing blood in her pants when she goes to the toilet and thinks she is going to die,” Gantt continued.
“She doesn’t actually understand what’s happening. And her teacher isn’t even qualified to explain to her that this is just a fact of life,” she continued.
Planned Parenthood criticised the idea and stated that the draught legislation would transfer “complete responsibility from local school districts in approving sex education curriculum” to the State Department of Education.
Annie Filkowski of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates referred to the law as ludicrous.
“This law throws a bright light on Florida’s political leaders’ constant hunger for power,” she said in a statement.
