A controversial bill mandating that Indiana schools notify parents when a student asks for name or pronoun changes is headed to the governor’s desk.
House Bill 1608 also bans human sexuality instruction to the youngest Hoosier students.
The measure advanced from the House in a 63-28 vote on Monday. It’s not clear where Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb stands on the bill in its final form.
The proposal, authored by Rep. Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland, is reminiscent of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law that has been described by some as one of the most “hateful” pieces of legislation in the country.
Davis has maintained the bill intends to “empower Hoosier parents by reinforcing that they’re in the driver’s seat when it comes to introducing sensitive topics to their children.” She said previously that the bill is a response to “numerous concerns of parents in her district.
Supporters further say parents have the “right” and “responsibility” to control what their children learn — and are called — when at school.
But critics of the bill have argued that it’s part of a nationwide wave of legislation “singling out LGBTQ+ people and their families.” More specifically, they say that the legislation could put transgender children at risk of harm if they’re outed to unsupportive or abusive parents.
“I think what we’ve done is found a piece of legislation that’s in vogue, that came from one of these states down south — down as far as Florida — that we are copycatting. And we don’t need to do that,” said Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary, speaking on the House floor. He was the only lawmaker to address the chamber before a vote was taken Monday.
If signed into law, the bill will require schools to inform parents — within five business days — if students request to change a name or pronouns for any reason. That includes nicknames.
The bill also bans schools, school staff and third-party vendors from providing any instruction on “human sexuality” to students in third grade or below. But sex education typically doesn’t begin until the fourth or sixth grades under existing state standards.
The bill was pared down earlier this month to remove a provision that would have required schools get explicit consent from parents if a student requests to change their name or pronouns. An amendment adopted to the bill also deleted language that would have protected teachers who refuse to use a name or pronouns that are inconsistent with a student’s legal name and biological sex.