State Pulls Anti-Bullying Resources From Dept. Of Education Website

A recent move where anti-bullying resources were pulled from the Florida Department of Education website has some wondering why the state made this decision in the first place.  While some school districts offer their own resources on anti-bullying, it has completely disappeared from the state’s website. Now, when someone visits the Bullying Prevention page on the FDOE website, they’re simply taken to a 404 page. The state is also accused of removing anti-bullying resources specifically geared towards the LGBTQ+ community, leading some to label this as an attack against LGBTQ+ individuals. But still, it goes beyond just that. Brandon Wolf, the press secretary for Equality Florida, spoke to News Daytona Beach about the resources and said it’s not just affecting LGBTQ+ kids, it’s really affecting everyone. “The webpage that was on the site was dedicated to anti-bullying resources, and specifically to uplifting organizations and groups that are fighting high rates of youth suicides,” said Wolf. And with the COVID-19 Pandemic’s effect on the youth’s mental health, Wolf said these resources are needed now more than ever. This is especially troubling in the LGBTQ+ demographic, which Wolf said is four times more likely to commit suicide “The resources we’re talking about aren’t just nice to have,” said Wolf. “They’re lifesaving resources that need to go back on the site.” According to a report from News4Jax, an FDOE said the resources were taken down after the department received a complaint that some of the external website links on the page were “inappropriate.” Some even disagree that it’s an outright attack against the LGBTQ+ community. Mark Rubinoff, Pastor of the Florida-based virtual church Forgiven Temple Ministries, believes the state is not taking a stance against anti-bullying, but instead against some of the content these resources offered. As Rubinoff stated in an interview with News Daytona Beach, he believes some of the content might be inappropriate for younger teens and children, especially information related to transgenderism, as it can put pressure on them at an early age. “I think it’s the sexualization of our children,” said Rubinoff. “I think it causes mental duress on them because it’s hard enough as a youth to find your place in the world and to find your firm standing.” Rubinoff is also a part of Project Safe Zone, a faith-based counseling and support group for LGBTQ+ youth ages 15 and over. With the recent passage of the Florida Parents Bill of Rights—which gives parents rights relating to a minor child’s education, upbringing, & health care—the argument now turns to whether or not the decision to provide this information should be left up to the state, or parents. After all, the information is free, but some think it’s removal can come at a price, a hefty one too. If you’re curious about what anti-bullying measures you can take, visit StopBullying.gov. LGBTQ+ individuals who feel they are in crisis or in need of some counseling can visit TrevorProject.org for support, including a 24/7 hotline. And if you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please do not hesitate to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 where there is always help available.