In that time, the nature of LGBTQ+ rights and identity in Vermont shifted dramatically. The Rainbow Cattle Company in Dummerston shut down years earlier, and the iconic Andrews Inn in Bellows Falls had faded away decades ago.īut when 135 Pearl announced its closure - the owner cited the struggles of owning a small business - no one knew it would take 15 years to fill the gap it left for LGBTQ+ Vermonters. Shooka Dooka’s in Rutland closed weeks before. In spring 2006, Vermont’s last bar catering to the LGBTQ+ community, Burlington’s 135 Pearl, closed its doors for good. “And we bring that to how we run the space, which I do think makes it different than a lot of other bars in just how it feels inside.” Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger Babes isn’t a “queer bar,” or at least it hasn’t marketed itself as such. “But obviously, we're queer folks,” said co-owner Owen Daniel-McCarter, not pictured. The legislation was also the target of jokes at Sunday night's Academy Awards ceremony.Vermont has a new generation of bar owners who are redefining what it means to be a “gay bar,” including Babes Bar in Bethel, shown on Friday, April 1. I am not backing down." The law takes effect July 1. "Our goal as a company is for this law to be repealed by the legislature or struck down in the courts, and we remain committed to supporting the national and state organizations working to achieve that."īut DeSantis was defiant in the face of critics, "I don't care what Hollywood says. "Florida's HB 1557, also known as the 'Don't Say Gay' bill, should never have passed and should never have been signed into law," the statement read. On Monday, a spokesperson said in a statement that the company hopes the law is repealed or struck down in court. Leading up to the bill's signing, critics, which include The Walt Disney Company, lambasted Florida lawmakers for the legislation. Social support is vital for suicide prevention, and I want to remind LGBTQ youth in Florida and across the country that you are not alone." The Trevor Project says these provisions, "appear to undermine LGBTQ support in schools and include vague parental notification requirements, which could effectively require teachers to 'out' LGBTQ students to their legal guardians without their consent, regardless of whether they are supportive."Īmit Paley, CEO & Executive Director of The Trevor Project, said in a statement that, "While I am saddened to see this harmful bill signed into law, I am inspired by the outpouring of support for LGBTQ students we have seen from parents, teachers, celebrities, and their peers. The law requires parents to be the first to be notified of any health or support services offered to their kids in school and allows them the chance to deny those services on behalf of their children. The group also critiqued the policy's parental notification requirements.
The Trevor Project condemned the signing of the bill saying the bill erases "LGBTQ identity, history, and culture - as well as LGBTQ students themselves." When those kids are given access to spaces that affirm their gender identity, they report lower rates of suicide attempts, according to The Trevor Project. Studies have shown that LGBTQ youth already face higher health and suicide risks than their cisgender or straight peers. Protestors stand in front of Florida State Senator Ileana Garcia's office after the passage of the Parental Rights in Education bill on March 9. He said, "It's not something that's appropriate for any place, but especially not in Florida." It also gives parents an option to sue a school district if the policy is violated.ĭuring a press conference ahead of signing the law, DeSantis said teaching kindergarten-aged kids that "they can be whatever they want to be" was "inappropriate" for children. Supporters of the legislation say it's meant to allow parents to determine when and in what way to introduce LGBTQ topics to their children.
It 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." The bill, which some opponents have called "Don't Say Gay," was signed by DeSantis on Monday. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signed the controversial "Parental Rights in Education" bill.
Public school teachers in Florida are banned from holding classroom instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity after Florida's Gov. 24, signed a bill into law Monday that restricts the education of LGBTQ topics in the state's public schools.