Rose Taylor, a Florida parent, was deeply disturbed when she learned that her son's new teacher would not use his preferred pronouns. This incident shattered Taylor's sense of security in her local North Florida school.

Taylor, who asked to use a pseudonym for privacy, says her son identified as a boy at the age of 4, and his teachers and classmates embraced his name and pronoun changes.

The following year, however, his new teacher refused to use the correct pronouns. Taylor's son told his mother that the teacher could call him a girl, “but no one else could.”

Taylor's response was immediate: “Adults shouldn't have special rules that go against your own personal rules.”

She added, “This could lead to him being bullied. It also teaches him that some adults in power don't have to follow rules, which could make him vulnerable to abuse, manipulation, or other harmful situations.”

Joining a group like Equality Florida's Parenting with Pride has helped parents like Taylor navigate these challenges amid a rising tide of anti-LGBTQ legislation and rhetoric.

According to the ACLU, Florida has seen 14 bills introduced this year that would target the LGBTQ community – including limitations on changes to identification documents, the mandatory use of preferred names or pronouns, and more.

In recent years, education has been targeted by this type of legislation, with the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law and the Stop “WOKE” Act imposing restrictions on the content and materials schools can share about gender and sexual orientation.

Advocates for these laws contend that they empower parents to determine what their children learn and discuss about sensitive topics, suggesting that such conversations are more appropriately addressed at home rather than in school. A spokesperson for Gov. Ron DeSantis, in a post on X , asserted that "there is no justification for incorporating instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity into K-12 public education. Period.”

Many of these bills failed or died in the legislature. One of those bills was from State Sen. Bran Martin, who proposed legislation that would have banned Pride flags from flying at government buildings or public schools and colleges. In an interview with
, Martin called sexual orientation and gender "adult issues" and argued that these laws are intended to "protect children."

"No one is attacking children for their sexual orientation or gender identity," Martin stated. He explained that some constituents and lawmakers believe that young children should not engage in discussions about gender or sexual orientation in the classroom.

"There are so many great books that kids can learn from to build self-esteem, navigate friendships, achieve success, or cope with unique experiences in their lives," Martin said. "We don't need our shelves overflowing with kids' books about sexual identity when there's so much else to learn and teach."

Florida parent Jennifer Solomon told
her youngest son didn’t know anything about politics or the different gender identities when he began showing signs that his gender expression might not align with what is typical for boys his age -- such as wanting to wear dresses.

She founded local LGBTQ advocacy group PFLAG Miami when she realized there were few local resources for parents with children like her son, and she needed guidance and support.

"I realized I had a story to share, that I had this amazing child to raise, and he makes a positive impact on everyone he meets."

She worried that middle school might be difficult for her child due to concerns about bullying and his safety -- "I was wrong," she said.

"He's the student council president. He's on the cheerleading team. He just joined the competitive dance team," Solomon said. "He's shown me and others that you can live authentically, and people will accept you if we can get politicians and lawmakers to step aside and let our kids be themselves. "

Now, as the Parents and Families Support Manager for Equality Florida, Solomon hopes Parenting for Pride can help parents address attempts to limit LGBTQ+ representation in school curriculum or restrict how students can express themselves in educational settings.

Parenting for Pride, a new initiative that recently hosted its inaugural summit with over 200 attendees, offers workshops, discussions, and training sessions covering online safety, well-being, Title IX, and more.

Hillsboro County parent Ellen Lyons attended the summit on behalf of her school's Parent-Teacher Association to learn how to better make all families feel "welcomed and included."

"Students have expressed concerns about how new laws might affect what books they can read, how they can interact with each other, and how teachers can address them," said Lyons. "One of PTA's goals is to gather complete information about the current situation so we can provide accurate information and help people advocate for their students."

Parenting with Pride has built a network of over 2,000 families – a response local activists are promoting amid the growing anti-LGBTQ climate.

"We are parents, and we're demanding our parental rights, because they belong to all parents, not just some," said Solomon. "Enough attacks on my child. I'm ready to advocate in a way I never thought I would.”