The Indiana House of Representatives has passed a bill that would require school officials to notify parents when a student requests a name or pronoun change. The bill was passed with a vote of 63-28, largely along party lines. If signed into law by Governor Eric Holcomb, the proposal would mandate that schools provide written notification to a child’s parent or guardian within five business days of the child requesting to be called a different pronoun, title, or word.
Critics of the bill argue that it could out young transgender people to their families, potentially endangering their safety and well-being. This concern is particularly relevant given that Holcomb recently signed a law banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors in the state.
Despite the opposition, supporters of the bill argue that it empowers parents by putting them in control of “introducing sensitive topics to their children.” Republican state Rep. Michelle Davis, one of the bill’s lead sponsors, defended the approach and its potential impact.
The proposed legislation also includes a ban on teaching “human sexuality” in pre-K through third grade. Democratic Rep. Vernon Smith of Gary criticized the measure, calling it “copycat” legislation that promotes a fallacy that schools are teaching children to become transgender or gay.
Opponents of the bill have been vocal in their protests, frequently gathering at the Statehouse to voice their disapproval. The bill’s passage is just the latest example of Republican-led legislatures across the country seeking to limit LGBTQ+ rights, particularly targeting transgender individuals’ everyday lives.
As the bill now awaits the governor’s signature, advocates for transgender rights are watching closely, concerned about the impact that it could have on young people and their families.