Congressional Republicans introduced what some are calling a national version of Florida's Parental Rights in Education billalso called the "Don't Say Gay" measure, according to NBC News.
On Oct. 18, U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana and 32 other Republican members of Congress introduced the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act of 2022, which would prohibit the use of federal funds "to develop, implement, facilitate, or fund any sexually oriented program, event or literature for children under the age of 10, and for other purposes."
The bill defines "sexually oriented material" as "any depiction, description, or simulation of sexual activity, any lewd or lascivious depiction or description of human genitals, or any topic involving gender identity, gender dysphoria, transgenderism, sexual orientation or related subjects."
The sweeping legislation would affect all federally funded facilities and programs, which would include public libraries, federally funded schools, military bases and hospitals.
Pro-LGBTQ+ advocates hit back on social media. For example, Alejandra Caraballoa clinical instructor at Harvard Law School's Cyberlaw Clinictweeted, "I can't overstate how radical the private right of action portion is. The bill is so broadly defined that a pediatric hospital could be sued for having a pride flag or a medical pamphlet about gender dysphoria. It deputizes anti-LGBTQ bigots to engage in bounty lawsuits."