Sunday, June 20th, 2021
WSHS YOUNG DEMS
NEWSLETTER
Kendall Kurila
Anti-LGBT Laws in Hungary
New Bans on Media Featuring LGBT People
This last week, Hungary’s parliament
passed a law making it illegal to depict gay
or transgender characters in media
targeted towards minors. It is also now
illegal for teachers to discuss LGBT issues
in schools. These laws were tacked on to a
bill that created a registry of pedophiles
and increased punishments for sex
offences against minors.
Only one lawmaker voted against the
measure, and all parties except the
majority party and a right-wing party
boycotted the vote in protest. The writing
of the bill conflated homosexuality and
pedophilia in a way that is blatantly anti-
LGBT. The European Union will be
investigating the bill since it combined two
topics that are not closely related. The bill
also violates EU laws and the Charter of
Fundamental Rights and Treaties.
Libby Cathey, June19th, 2021, ABC News
Zachary Roz
“Juneteenth”
The new Federal Holiday sparks controversy
On June 17th, President Biden signed
new legislation, officially making
“Juneteenth” a federally recognized
holiday, stating that the signing of this
new holiday was “one of the greatest
honors [he] will have as president.” It was
passed in a unanimous vote in the Senate
and a 415-14 vote in the House.
According to a History Channel reporter,
Juneteenth (June 19th) commemorates the
day federal troops arrived in Galveston,
Texas in 1865 to take control of the state
and ensure that enslaved people were
freed, despite the Emancipation
Proclamation being signed more than two
years earlier.
Issue #3
Activists are drawing parallels between this
legislation and Russia’s anti-gay
propaganda law that was passed in 2013.
The law increased social hostility and
became a barrier for LGBT youth to
access affirming education and support.
Human rights organizations fear similar
things will happen in Hungry.
This also means larger things for the EU
as what they do about the human rights
violation will set a precedent for the
future. Countries who would like to pass
similar legislation will be dissuaded if the
EU responds harshly. However, if they fail
to act, it will seem like permission for
future anti-LGBT legislation to be passed.
Poland and Russia already have a history
of targeting LGBT people, and other
countries might follow if the EU does not
act accordingly.
Although a step in the right direction,
many argue that this action still does not
address the problems with how BIPOC
are treated.
Zellie Imani, a teacher, blogger, and
activist, told Newsweek that “we didn’t
ask for Juneteenth to be observed as a
national holiday, we wanted an end to
police violence.” This points to the views
and pleas of many BIPOC across the
country who have been calling for change
their whole lives, yet still wonder if the
federal government will recognize their
concerns through more than just a new
national holiday.
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With this legislation brought to the table
right before an election, LGBT people are
once again used to divide political parties.
This bill could serve as motivation for
supporters of right-wing lawmakers to
continue their support, and vote in the
upcoming election.
Szilard Koszticsak, June 14 , 2021, AP News
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Kendall Kurila
Florida Bans Critical
Race Theory in
Schools
Desantis Calls it a “Waste of
Taxpayer Dollars”
Last week the Florida State Board of
Education voted to ban critical race theory
in schools on the grounds that topics must
be “factual and objective.” Governor
Desantis argues that "Critical Race Theory
teaches kids to hate our country and to
hate each other. It is state-sanctioned
racism and has no place in Florida
schools." However, people that teach
critical race theory say it is simply about
teaching how racism is still affecting
systems present in the United States today.
States other than Florida have also banned
critical race theory saying it is
“indoctrination” and students should think
for themselves. A Florida teacher is suing
her school distract for retaliating after she
spoke up about racism. It is clear this bill
is not fixing a problem of indoctrination
but keeping students away from
understanding the uglier parts of
American history.
Bob Self, June 10 2021, NBC News
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