Florida students allowed to talk about sexual orientation, gender identity after 'don't say gay' settlement

Section 28 in the UK which banned the "promotion" of homosexuality in schools fucked up a lot of kids in the 90s including me. Thankfully it was repealed.

Don't let America go that route. You'll cause more harm by restricting discussion of sexuality.

As a young teen I thought my attraction to my classmates meant I was a paedophile. It resulted in me cutting, burning and hitting myself whenever I wanked to anything gay as a form of 'DIY conversation therapy'.

I still have the scars at 40 and I only properly came out as gay at 38 after years of self hate.

All I would have needed is a person in authority like a teacher or parent to say "same sex attraction is normal" or "fancying your same sex mates doesn't make you a pedo - you may just be gay".

I know it sounds fucking dumb to hear as an adult but as a confused, angsty, pubescent teen who grew up pre-internet* it made sense that I was perverted, evil and broken.

*The internet doesn't necessarily make it easier for teens to confirm themselves. They could just as easily fall into the same mindset as me due to misinformation rather than ignorance.