Sometimes when I will speak in more progressive, left-leaning states and they find out I'm from Indiana – a state that has Republican supermajorities in both legislative houses, a Republican (for the most part) governor, and strong conservative grassroots – they'll comment how nice it must be to live somewhere that hasn't gone completely nuts.
They're not wrong, of course. So I admit to feeling a little spoiled when I draw attention to issues like the one developing right now in the Hoosier state, particularly when I know how much worse off people are elsewhere. But as Indiana lawmakers prepare to pass a law that will prohibit the teaching of sexual content and gender ideology to young elementary aged students, state media here in a bright red state can't help but pitifully mimic their idols in national corporate media.
Here's the latest example of that pathetic phenomenon, where Indianapolis ABC affiliate WRTV uses far-left ACLU propaganda as the cover image for a biased, inflammatory framing of the issue:
As if that wasn't enough, they opted to rehash the same fake description of the legislation that progressives tried in Florida:
Just like with the Florida law, there is absolutely nothing in this bill that bans anyone from saying the word "gay." In actuality, it does two things.
First, regarding classroom instruction for K-3, it states in section 2:
A school, an employee or staff member of a school, or a third-party vendor used by a school to provide instruction may not provide any instruction to a student in kindergarten through grade 3 on human sexuality.
Contrary to progressive complaints that this would limit a gay teacher or staff member from answering questions from kids honestly, the bill also includes this in section 4:
Nothing in this chapter may be construed to prevent a school employee or a school staff member from responding to a question from a student regarding the topic described in section 2 of this chapter.
As a public high school teacher myself, I contend it should raise serious eyebrows if any person finds this legislative proscription intrusive or improper. Rather than carrying their water, a media responsible to, and holding the best interest of the people, would be asking those objecting to this stipulation why they are so invested in talking to 5 to 9-year-olds about sexuality. But that's too much to ask of the journalists and reporters hired and employed at WRTV, it seems.
Not that they're alone:
- WTHR (Indianapolis's NBC affiliate): "Indiana ‘Don't Say Gay' bill pivots to kids' gender identity"
- WFYI (Indianapolis's PBS affiliate): "Indiana's ‘Don't Say Gay' bill expanded in committee – includes religious protections, nicknames"
- Indy Star: "IPS students protest ‘Don't Say Gay' bill"
- WNDU (South Bend NBC affiliate): "Indiana ‘Don't Say Gay' passes out of committee"
And the list goes on. It's important to remember this is an institutional, industry-wide problem. Red states are not immune to the dishonest echo chamber of left-wing lap-dog media.
Secondly, the Indiana legislation requires school personnel to inform parents if a student requests to "change the student's name, pronoun, title, or other word to identify the student that is inconsistent with the student's sex." It also protects teachers and staff members in schools from legal trouble should they use a child's legal name or appropriately corresponding pronoun.
In other words, the law respects the authority and rights of moms and dads to know if their child is exhibiting psychiatric delusions or mental dysphoria. And it protects professionals from being legally harassed or censured for using language that expresses reality.
That there are those who object to such legislation is astonishing. That trained journalists would take and promote their side is hackish and unprofessional. And that all this is happening with increasing frequency, even in places like Indiana, is downright depressing.
