LGBTQ civil rights laws worry some teachers who fear punishment – USA TODAY

• Lawmakers in at least 20 states have introduced bills that target how schools discuss LGBTQ rights.
• Supporters of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law, officially titled “Parental Rights in Education,” say they’re seeking to protect parents’ rights.
• In many states, teachers are being deputized as culture war cops, called upon to police their own behavior, and that of their students. It’s a role that many are reluctant to take on.

Michael Woods doesn’t tell his high school students that he is gay. He doesn’t bring up gay marriage or any other topic that might court controversy, either.

“I am very cautious about a lot of things,” said Woods, a special education teacher in Palm Beach County, Florida, who teaches science. “I enjoy keeping my job.”