Shut-up!

More states are passing laws banning the discussion of anything LGBTQ+ in the classroom and more and more states are being sued over the laws. The Republican controlled legislature in New Hampshire just passed such a law (The Republicans control both chambers and the governorship.).

Filed: Federal Lawsuit Challenging New Hampshire School Censorship Law
December 20, 2021

ACLU, Largest Teachers’ Union NEA-NH, Leading Disability and LGBTQ+ Advocacy Groups, and NH Law Firms File Federal Lawsuit Challenging NH Classroom Censorship Law

“Banned concepts” law unconstitutionally chills discourse on race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and gender identity in schools and public workplaces

CONCORD, N.H. – A diverse group of educators, advocacy groups, and law firms filed a federal lawsuit today challenging a New Hampshire classroom censorship law, contained within state budget bill HB2, which discourages public school teachers from teaching and talking about race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and gender identity in the classroom.

New Hampshire is one of many states across the country that passed similar laws in 2021 aimed at censoring discussions around race and gender in the classroom. This is the third federal lawsuit in the country to facially challenge one of these bans, including the ACLU’s recently filed lawsuit challenging Oklahoma’s classroom censorship ban. The New Hampshire lawsuit argues that HB2’s language unconstitutionally chills educators’ voices under the 14th Amendment, and prevents students from having an open and complete dialogue about the perspectives of historically marginalized communities, as well as on topics concerning race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.
[…]
“This unconstitutionally vague law disallows students from receiving the inclusive, complete education they deserve, and from having important conversations on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity in the classroom,” said Gilles Bissonnette, Legal Director of the ACLU of New Hampshire. “It is an attack on educators who are simply doing their job. Just four months into the school year, teachers are reporting being afraid to teach under this law for fear of being taken to court. This law, through vagueness and fear, erases the legacy of discrimination and lived experiences of Black and Brown people, women and girls, LGBTQ+ people, and people with disabilities.”

So now it is off to the courts for the long journey up to the Supreme Court where is is a crap-shoot if we will win.