In the middle of one of the reddest states in America, its bluest city’s school district passed a controversial sex education curriculum that would introduce gender identity and sexual preferences to children as young as eight years old.
According to KXAN, the new curriculum for the Austin Independent School District includes sex-ed that also teaches children how to use a condom:
The curriculum spans grades three through eight. Under the new curriculum, for the first time, the district will teach students about gender identity and sexual orientation. The lessons will also help kids identify an adult they can trust; plus talk to them about options if they get pregnant, and seventh graders would learn how to use a condom.
The curriculum could go into effect as early as May of next year.
The night of the vote had people coming together from all sides of the debate, so much so that a line formed out of the door for those wishing to take the floor and speak massing a total of 126 people. At one point, KXAN reported that the tensions became so heated that police were forced to arrest a transgendered person (man identifying as a woman) who continued to scream in people’s faces and interrupt rallies.
As you can see in the video, the group opposed to the curriculum called “Stand Up for Children” was continuously interrupted with siren noises and shouting from the opposition.
According to KVUE-TV reporter Molly Oak, speakers who did reach the microphone voiced opposition to the rules. One speaker, Lorie Meynig, complained that these lessons are sexualizing children while more time should be dedicated to basic education like reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Next: Lorie Meynig. She also opposed changes to the sex ed program. She said she reviewed some of the middle school curriculum. She says "these types of lessons are sexualizing our children." Asks the board to focus on reading, writing, and arithmetic.
— Molly Oak (@MollyAndAMic) September 24, 2019
KVUE reported that other parents spoke in favor of the curriculum, such as Belynda Montgomery, with Informed Parents of Austin, the group promoting the curriculum.
“Why would we educate so thoroughly about everything else in the world and not thoroughly educate about our bodies? It makes no sense at all,” Montgomery said.
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