Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Rachel Levine said some “LGBTQI+” children need to replace their parents with “one supportive adult” while criticizing Florida’s parental rights law as “a gag rule” in a video clip posted on Twitter Tuesday.
“One supportive adult,” Levine, who is transgender, said in the clip posted on Twitter by @MegEBrock. “I’d love it if that was always the parent, but it’s not always a parent. Frequently it’s a teacher, or a guidance counselor, or some other coach or another school personnel.”
“This law forbids kids essentially from — from talking to — to — to these people. Also, it means that — that if you tell a teacher, the teacher has to tell the parent,” Levine added. “And so it really is — is a gag rule. It’s a gag law to — to — to prevent kids from accessing supportive adults.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation protecting parental rights in Florida in March, which came following a spate of lawsuits across the country centered around clandestine social transitions of children in schools.
In the News: Parental Rights Advocates Seeking To Shed Light On What Is Being Taught In Schools
The law prohibits discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through third grade and required schools to notify parents about services for mental, emotional and physical health.
A 12-year-old Florida girl reportedly attempted suicide twice after administrators carried out a social transition without informing her parents, prompting a lawsuit.
“Studies show that one supportive adult, one supportive adult for an LGBTQI+ kid can make all the difference in terms of preventing suicide, in terms of — of them, being able to navigate the world into adulthood and leading a — you know, a happy, successful, productive life,” Levine said.
Levine previously endorsed a June 2022 executive order by President Joe Biden that expanded access to sex-change procedures for children and claimed the following month that political attacks, bullying, and mental health issues threatened transgender youth.
Android Users, Click Here To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook Here Or Twitter Here. Signup for our free newsletter by clicking here.