Parenting With Pride: Florida support group for LGBTQ+ families created to keep far-right groups from dominating debate about parents & children

 

All of these groups (Moms for Liberty especially) constantly yammering "leave our kids alone" are deliberately obscuring the issue when it comes to families in America. If you ask them about LGBTQ families, they either ignore you or try to change the subject. They see our families and our kids as non-existent or unimportant since we don't fit into their so-called perfect, but ignorantly narrow image.

Enough is enough.

LGBTQ parents and their allies are stepping up in Florida to demand that their voices be added to the conversation.

Amid attacks on the LGBTQ community & academic freedom, parents are showing up and speaking out. Today, a new suite of resources is available to help support parents and families navigating these harmful education policies a​s school returns. Join us: https://t.co/IOA1CgZOo1 pic.twitter.com/3Z9yvnVgxS

— Equality Florida (@equalityfl) August 15, 2023

From Axios: 

 As many Florida children went back to school last week, a group of parents came together to announce a new support group for LGBTQ+ families. 

 Driving the news: Equality Florida formed Parenting With Pride to teach guardians about new laws affecting queer students via free webinars, track how those rules are implemented in schools, and provide them with resources and support.

Why it matters: LGBTQ+ youth have been the target of laws and regulations championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and his allies over the last few years. The approach not only hurts a population of children at higher risk of depression and suicide because of how they're treated in society, advocates say, but also creates a confusing landscape for parents to navigate. 

  What they're saying: "There is a need for answers in Florida right now," Equality Florida press secretary Brandon Wolf said at a news conference announcing the group, "answers to what rights families have and can continue exercising in schools, answers to how the raft of legislation that's targeting those families will be implemented in classrooms, answers to how the system will impact their kids."

By the numbers: More than 1,000 families from Pensacola to Key West had joined the program as of last week, Wolf said. An estimated 114,000 LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-17 live in Florida, according to the Williams Institute, a think tank that conducts research on policies and laws pertaining to sexual orientation and gender identity.

'Suspect named in fatal shooting of California store owner over a Pride flag' & other Tue midday news briefs

Laura Carleton

Suspect named in fatal shooting of California store owner over a Pride flag - This is what all of this hatred breeds. This was a hate crime:

 Travis Ikeguchi, 27, was responsible for shooting Laura Ann Carleton, 66, to death after "yelling many homophobic slurs" about her clothing store's Pride flag on Friday, San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said at a press conference on Monday. Ikeguchi fled Carleton's store, Mag Pi, by foot and was later killed in “a lethal force encounter" with deputies on Friday. Officials said that Ikeguchi — a resident of Cedar Glen, California — had a history of making posts that were critical of the LGBTQ community on multiple social media platforms, including X, formerly known as Twitter.

The Unbelievably Bonkers Conspiracy Theorist Running For Governor Of North Carolina​ - Mark Robinson thinks Beyonce is 'Satanic.' Of course he is an anti-LGBTQ bigot of the lowest order. 

This professor brought millions to Florida State. Now he's leaving a 'hostile' environment - Florida has to learn the hard way.

What Is Gender-Affirming Care, and Which States Have Restricted it in 2023? - So many people have false ideas about gender-affirming care (especially for trans kids) but won't even try to adequately educate themselves on the topic.