Television host and self-described liberal Bill Maher is defending Florida's much-debated parental rights bill, saying that young children shouldn't be taught about sex in a new episode of his HBO program.
The bill – called the "don't say 'gay' bill" by critics – is designed to give parents more rights over what their children are taught in the classroom.
The most-discussed section of the bill would prevent kindergarten through third-grade students from receiving instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has said he will sign the bill, which previously passed the House and Senate.
"They're talking about kindergarten to third grade," Maher said on an episode of Real Time with Bill Maher. (Warning: coarse language.) "So we're talking about very young kids who, you know, as always, with this stuff – it's not like there's no kernel of truth in that maybe kids that young shouldn't be thinking about sex at all. ... It's not like you're not allowed to literally not say 'gay.' But they just don't want teachers talking about it. They think it's the province of parents."
The section that has sparked the most controversy reads, "Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards."
Critics have said the bill would force schools to "out" LGBT-identifying students to their parents. To that, Maher said, "Shouldn't parents know everything anyway?"
Maher also criticized California school policy.
"In California," he said, "it's the school has more of those rights than the parent."
Maher has described himself as a liberal and a libertarian. In a new interview with Ben Shapiro, he says the Left has changed.
"I haven't changed at all. My politics hasn't changed. They've changed," Maher told Shapiro. "People say to me, sometimes, you know, have you changed? No. Five years ago, no one was talking about defunding the police. I never heard that phrase five years ago. That's not me changing. That's things changing. I'm reacting to it. .... Letting three-year-olds decide what gender they are – this wasn't something five years ago. Free speech used to be a left-wing thing that we were proud [of] and owned. And now that seems to be under attack. So again, I think I've stayed the same."
Related:
DeSantis Blasts Media's 'False Narratives,' Says LGBT Bill Protects Only K-3rd Grades
Photo courtesy: Delia Giandeini/Unsplash
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
