After a phenomenal March for Life in D.C. two weeks ago (see more below), I came home to a new legislative session, and it didn’t take long for last year’s comprehensive pleasure-based sex-ed bill, H7166, to resurface.
Once again, Senator Tiara Mack and Representatives Kislak, Donovan, Potter, Felix, Alzate, Speakman, Carson, Henries, Tanzi, and Ajello have teamed up to circumvent parental rights with curriculum for grades 6-12. Here’s an excerpt from this bill that is intended for children as young as 6th grade:
“Provided further, courses in family life or sex education shall … affirmatively recognize pleasure based sexual relations, different sexual orientations and be inclusive of same-sex relationships in discussions and examples. In addition, comprehensive course instruction shall include gender, gender expression, gender identity, and the harm of negative gender stereotypes.”
The sponsors claim this type of curriculum decreases sexual activity and STDs in teens, but other sources disagree emphatically and say exactly the opposite. When this type of curriculum is taught, teens say they feel pressured to have sex.
Both Rep. Kislak and Sen. Mack candidly claimed to be part of the LGBTQ+ community in Rhode Island and both believe their sexual preferences and identities are neglected in the sex-ed programs of our public schools. Sen. Mack claimed to have majored in sex ed at Brown University, where she developed much of the training she now recommends. When asked by Rep. Sherry Roberts if parents were a part of her research, she said, “NO, THEY WERE NOT.” Both Sen. Mack and Rep. Kislak emphasized repeatedly that sex norms are changing, and that teens as well as parents need to update their thinking.
There was no mention of faith and family values, which obviously play a part in how parents raise their children.
I testified against this bill in person along with others who also provided great verbal and written statements. For now, the legislation has been tabled, but we must not allow special interest groups to capture the impressionable minds of our youth.
Be on the lookout for future alerts on this matter. Already, parents are expressing outrage on social media concerning this bill. If H7166 starts to move in the legislature, we will make sure you have the tools to reach out to your representatives so you can ask them to oppose this bill and the promotion of comprehensive sex-ed curriculums in our public schools.
For Faith and Family in RI,
David Aucoin
Chairman, Board of Directors – Rhode Island
P.S. As noted above, I attended the March for Life in Washington D.C. for the first-time two weeks ago, and it was a LIFE-changing experience not only for me, but also for the more than 150,000 people who attended and marched despite bitterly cold weather. Who knows how many preborn lives will be saved as a result of this year’s march?
Should Roe be overturned, the issue of abortion will return to each state and then the battle will really begin, because Rhode Island has NO PROTECTIONS for preborn babies. Mother and doctor can decide at birth whether her baby is allowed to live, and that’s barbaric! Please pray that we can change that this year! Visit Family Policy Alliance’s AfterRoe.com for helpful information.