What You Can Do About the Dunleavy Administration’s Battles Against LGBTQ+ Youth and Other Individuals
Update 03/29/23: House Bill 105 Up for Hearing Tomorrow, Thursday, March 30. Please testify!
Yesterday, Governor Dunleavy held a news conference for a pair of bills aimed at Alaska’s education system. Today the governor introduced the bills as HB 105/SB 96, “Parental Rights in Education”, and HB 106/SB 97, “Teacher Retention and Recruitment Incentives”.
The headliner, HB 105/SB 96, is an imitation of Florida’s “Don’s Say Gay” bill and “Stop Woke Act”, hidden under the increasingly popular (and false) moniker of safeguarding parental rights. Like legislation in Florida, this proposed bill would force educators to report any private personal information or preferences about students to their parents, and would open up these educators and their schools to lawsuits if they fail to comply.
Educators would be unable to talk and teach about sex or gender identity, teach sex education, or address students by their preferred pronouns (or even nicknames) if they didn’t have the express, written permission of a parent (legal guardians seem, in the language of the bill, to only share some rights with parents, which is odd). This proposed bill changes the modus operandi of school districts: parents are already empowered to take their students out of any proposed classes they disagree with. This bill would change that system having to opt-in to these lesson plans and courses, instead of the existing opt-out method: an important distinction.
It’s pretty much the exact opposite of SB 43, which I urged you to support last week.
Educators would be required to essentially out any student who confides in them to their parents. While there are some situations where it is appropriate to disclose information to a student's parents, mandating educators to do so could harm the student-educator relationship, discourage students from seeking help, put them in danger, and violate their rights to privacy and autonomy.
Research has shown that students who identify as LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, or other sexual/gender minority identities) can face significant harm if their parents find out about their identity without their consent or before they are ready to come out. Here are some ways that this harm can manifest:
Negative family reactions: Studies have found that some parents may react negatively to their child coming out as LGBTQ+, which can lead to increased family conflict, rejection, and even homelessness in extreme cases. This negative family reaction can lead to significant emotional distress for the child and can have long-lasting effects on their mental health.
Risk of abuse: LGBTQ+ students who come from families with negative attitudes towards their identity may also be at higher risk of experiencing abuse, neglect, or violence at home.
Negative impact on academic performance: Research has shown that LGBTQ+ students who experience rejection or discrimination from their families are more likely to experience academic problems, including lower grades, higher absenteeism, and lower motivation to succeed in school.
Mental health problems: Studies have consistently found that LGBTQ+ students experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. Negative family reactions can exacerbate these mental health problems and put the child at higher risk for self-harm or suicide.
Social isolation: LGBTQ+ students who experience rejection or disapproval from their families may also experience social isolation, particularly if they are not yet out to their peers or if they are part of communities where LGBTQ+ identities are stigmatized or marginalized.
Some suggestions on how to help LGBTQ+ youth in your life (from a non-expert, and certainly not an exhaustive list: feel free to add more in the comments, or let me know if I’m off track):
Create a safe and inclusive environment: Make sure that your home or classroom is a safe and welcoming space for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This can involve using inclusive language, displaying LGBTQ+ affirming posters or books, and being willing to learn and grow in your understanding of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences.
Listen and validate their experiences: One of the most important ways to support LGBTQ+ youth is to listen to them and validate their experiences. This means taking their concerns and questions seriously, offering support and encouragement, and recognizing the unique challenges that LGBTQ+ youth may face.
Advocate for LGBTQ+ rights: Whether you're a parent, educator, or community member, you can advocate for policies and practices that promote equality and justice for LGBTQ+ people. This can involve speaking out against discrimination and bullying, supporting LGBTQ+ organizations and causes, and voting for political candidates who support LGBTQ+ rights.
Connect them with resources: LGBTQ+ youth may need additional support and resources, such as counseling, mentorship, or peer support groups. You can help connect them with these resources and support them in accessing the care they need.
Be a role model: One of the most important ways to support LGBTQ+ youth is to be a positive role model. This means modeling acceptance, respect, and understanding of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences, and being willing to challenge your own biases and assumptions.
Additional background info, important resources, and links to submit email testimony:
As ADN and ProPublica recently reported, the Dunleavy Administration quietly deleted language that provided equal protection for LGBTQ Alaskans and has started to refuse investigating complaints around these issues. This language disappeared from the states civil rights website and appears to be intentional, struck at the request of a conservative Christian group.
Native Movement has put together a page with more information and a tool to submit email testimony. I encourage you to read about it, and fill out the accompanying form: it only takes a few minutes!
As a response to the Adminstrations’s actions and the Governors bill, representatives Armstrong, Gray, Carrick, Himschoot, Mina, Story, Groh, Josephson, Galvin, Fields, Mears, Foster cosponsored HB 99 today, which would work to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. This would enshrine these protections under existing law. You can (and should) support it! Support also is included in my letter below (the one arguing against the governors bill, and others like it).
Planned Parenthood Alaska (and acknowledging the difficult work they’ve been doing in a time when many of their own staff and core values are under attack) has also released an email form where you can share your support of HB 99 through email testimony, and also oppose HB 105/SB 96.
Planned Parenthood Alaska recommends that you give Dunleavy’s office a call at 907-456-3500 and give him a piece of your mind. You might either talk to a real person or leave a message.
You could also contact your legislators directly, information for which you can find here:
Share a public opinion message with all legislators: https://www.akleg.gov/poms
Email the governor and legislators: gov.alllegislators@alaska.gov
Contact your areas elected representatives: akleg.gov
Scroll to the bottom of the homepage and use the Who Represents Me? tool.You can put everyone on the same email, or split it up.
Here’s a sample letter, if I could encourage you to send an email:
Dear Legislators,
I am writing to urge you to vote against any proposed bill that would put LGBTQ+ students at risk, including HB 105/SB 96, the so called “Parental Rights in Education” bill proposed by Governor Dunleavy. As you know, LGBTQ+ youth are some of the most vulnerable members of our society, and they face unique challenges and barriers to success that can be exacerbated by discrimination and stigma.
Unfortunately, bills that limit the rights and protections of LGBTQ+ students, including those related to school policies and bathroom/locker access across our country have been proposed and passed. In Alaska, these bills would send a harmful message to LGBTQ+ youth that they are not valued or accepted in our communities, and they would put their health, safety, and well-being at risk.
Research has consistently shown that LGBTQ+ youth experience higher rates of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Discrimination and stigma can exacerbate these issues and create additional barriers to success, including lower academic achievement, higher absenteeism, and social isolation.
As legislators, you have the power and responsibility to create policies and practices that promote equality, justice, and safety for all students, including those who identify as LGBTQ+. I urge you to use this power wisely and to vote against any bill that would put these students at risk.
Instead, I encourage you to support policies and practices that create safe and inclusive environments for all Alaskans, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This can involve adopting inclusive sex education requirements and anti-bullying policies that specifically address LGBTQ+ harassment, ensuring that school staff receive training on LGBTQ+ issues, and providing resources and support for LGBTQ+ students who may be struggling.
This also includes supporting legislation like HB 99, which would would work to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity or expression across our state.
By taking these steps, we can help ensure that all students, and all Alaskans, have the opportunity to succeed and thrive, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Thank you for your attention to these important issues.
Sincerely,
Kuba Grzeda
Fairbanks, Alaska
Though some legislators like Senate Education Committee Chair Löki Gale Tobin have announced that the bill would not be heard in the committee, calling it essentially purposefully divisive, some others (on the right) are much more excited about it. They need to hear from you.
This legislation does not fix our education issues, and the companion proposed bill, HB 106/SB 97, “Teacher Retention and Recruitment Incentives”, also unveiled yesterday and introduced today, does little to help with funding, beyond offering up teachers bonuses: it does not amend the Base Student Allocation (BSA), like our school district and many others have asked for, nor does it provided funds for positions other than teachers.
Why do all this now?
Why, when our legislators are inching towards solutions that the majority of Alaskans care about, like (actual) education, are these things coming up?
Well, my (and others) theory is that Dunleavy is playing up these policies and this rhetoric because it sounds good to a national, rightwing base in hopes of a future cabinet position by either Ron DeSantis or Donald Trump. My prediction is he’s building up a resume he can take outside of our state. I think he was hopeful in 2020, and he’ll be be even more hopeful in 2024.
In the meantime, we suffer for it. Thank you for speaking up and refusing to sit still throughout it all.