That’s Not What Grooming Means
This is an edition of Up for Debate, a newsletter by Conor Friedersdorf. On Wednesdays, he rounds up timely conversations and solicits reader responses to one thought-provoking question. Soon after, he publishes some thoughtful replies. Sign up for the newsletter here.
Question of the Week
What, if anything, should minors be taught or told about sexual orientation and gender identity before they hit puberty? Forget the worst arguments you’ve seen in this debate, and detail how you think things ought to be. What are the optimal roles for parents, public schools, churches, children’s-book authors, companies like Disney and Nickelodeon, and others? How do you define what is age-appropriate? What are the toughest questions? What’s a position you sympathize with even though you disagree?
Email your thoughts to conor@theatlantic.com. I’ll publish a selection of correspondence in a future newsletter.
Conversations of Note
Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that prohibits Florida public schools from offering instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in a manner that is not “age-appropriate.” Instruction on those subjects before fourth grade is banned outright. Proponents say the bill reclaims parental rights over when to expose children to sensitive subjects. Critics call it a “Don’t Say ‘Gay’” bill, arguing that its vagueness and reliance on lawsuits for enforcement will render educators afraid of mentioning the mere fact of gay or trans people.
The law is now at the center of the culture wars. It is already inspiring copycat legislation in other states, including Texas. And some supporters of the law are characterizing its opponents as if they are child predators. Here’s Christina Pushaw, a spokesperson for DeSantis, writing on Twitter:
The bill that liberals inaccurately call “Don’t
