Georgia proposes to follow Florida in passing a law to restrict discussion in school about sex or gender identity.

Education about those topics is important, so prohibit it is wrong, but we should describe clear what we are criticizing.

The label "don't say gay" misrepresents what these bills do. They do not order students not to talk about their own gender identities or sexual orientations, nor do they explicitly punish students for what they might say about those things.

Rather, they try to make schools and teachers discourage discussions about those topics, except for older students in a way considered "appropriate" for their age. ("Appropriate" is a subjective concept, and whenever it is used in connection with a contentious issue, it invites a subsequent power struggle over whose subjective interpretation will prevail.)