Tennis star Coco Gauff attacks Florida law that marginalizes LGBTQ+ people - The Guardian
- World No 19 says bill will halt important conversations
- Law restricts instruction on sexual orientation
Tennis star Coco Gauff has voiced her opposition to a bill in her home state of Florida that would prohibit classroom discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity for many young students.
“I’m against it,” Gauff told reporters on Wednesday in California, where she is preparing for the Indian Wells tournament. “I think these conversations are important, and for me, who has friends in the LGBTQ+ community, I couldn’t imagine not being able to talk about your identity. I feel that’s something that is normal.”
The Florida measure, referred to by its opponents as the “Don’t say gay” bill, has stirred national controversy amid an increasingly partisan debate over what schools should teach children about race and gender.
“Every [LGBTQ+] person I’ve known has known that they were part of that community since they were young,” the 17-year-old Gauff said. “I think it’s important that they have those conversations in school, because that is supposed to be a safe space to talk about everything.”
The Republican-backed legislation, formally called the “Parental Rights in Education” bill, bars classroom instruction in public schools on sexual orientation or gender identity for children in kindergarten through third grade, or for those nine and under.
Democrats say such policies will harm the LGBTQ+ community.
Gauff rose to prominence as a 15-year-old when she defeated Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2019. She is currently ranked No 19 in the world.
She said she sees parallels between the Florida bill and the struggle for racial justice, another issue she is passionate about.
“I think it was in 2019 or 2020 when I talked about the Black Lives Matter movement – I said it was important to have those conversations,” Gauff said. “Same stance on this. I think it’s important to have those tough conversations, and from the people that I spoke to who are part of the community, it definitely makes a difference when you don’t have to hide who you are.”
As 2022 begins, there’s a new year resolution we’d like you to consider. Tens of millions have placed their trust in the Guardian’s fearless journalism since we started publishing 200 years ago, turning to us in moments of crisis, uncertainty, solidarity and hope. We’d like to invite you to join more than 1.5 million supporters, from 180 countries, who now power us financially – keeping us open to all, and fiercely independent.
Unlike many others, the Guardian has no shareholders and no billionaire owner. Just the determination and passion to deliver high-impact global reporting, always free from commercial or political influence. Reporting like this is vital for democracy, for fairness and to demand better from the powerful.
And we provide all this for free, for everyone to read. We do this because we believe in information equality. Greater numbers of people can keep track of the global events shaping our world, understand their impact on people and communities, and become inspired to take meaningful action. Millions can benefit from open access to quality, truthful news, regardless of their ability to pay for it.
If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our journalism and sustains our future. Support the Guardian from as little as $1 – it only takes a minute. Thank you.
source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/mar/10/tennis-star-coco-gauff-attacks-florida-law-that-marginalizes-lgbtq-people
Your content is great. However, if any of the content contained herein violates any rights of yours, including those of copyright, please contact us immediately by e-mail at media[@]kissrpr.com.