Florida GOP bill bars young girls from discussing periods in school

As local gender, sexuality and diversity bills make their way through the Florida state legislature, new legislation would ban any discussion of menstrual cycles in school before sixth grade.

This breaks with the advice of medical providers who recommend talking to children about puberty and changes in their bodies before they happen.

The first period usually begins between 10 and 15 years old, but can start as early as 9 years old. This means that a student could probably be in third to tenth grade, or later, at the start of a period.

During a Florida House subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, Republican State Rep. Stan McClain said his bill would include restrictions on girls talking about their menstrual cycles.

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Bill would ban discussion of periods before sixth grade

House Bill 1069 would only allow “the teaching of acquired immune deficiency syndrome, sexually transmitted diseases, or health education” in grades 6 through 12.

Democratic state Rep. Ashley Gantt noted that young girls could start menstruating before sixth grade and asked for clarification on whether the bill would prohibit such girls from talking about themselves.

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“Does this bill prohibit conversations about menstrual cycles because we know that generally the age is between 10 and 15,” Gantt asked. “So if little girls know their menstrual cycle in fifth or fourth grade, will that shut them out of conversation since they’re in a lower grade than sixth grade?”

McClain confirmed that the wording of the bill would do just that: “It would,” McClain replied.

Legislation against “woke ideology”

The bill is one of the latest in a series of bills expected to be signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as he seeks to transform Florida’s education system in its fight against this which he calls “woke ideology”.

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The legislation DeSantis has signed so far includes banning transgender student-athletes from participating in school sports and new restrictions on discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms.

It’s a strategy also used by Republicans in Congress, with the House due to vote this week on the “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” a legislative effort in direct response to parents seeking more authority over their children’s education. during the pandemic.