There is no question that comprehensive sexual education in public schools has become increasingly more graphic and political in recent years. Thankfully, parents have had enough, and they are getting involved and working together to defend their children.

One such example is Battle Ground, Washington, a suburb of the Portland-Vancouver Metro Area. Just as the 2016 school year was nearing its end, Washington State education officials released what was considered then to be the most radical comprehensive sex ed standards in the nation.

Parents were outraged, and understandably so. The new “sexual health education outcomes” ensured that kindergarteners would learn about crossdressing as a form of gender expression. By third grade, students would be taught that they could choose their own gender. Fourth graders would be expected to explain the differences between heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual orientations.

Not only were the topics age-inappropriate, but the whole process seemed designed to exclude parents from the conversation surrounding sex and how it would be taught to their children in schools. Astonishingly, state education officials had drafted, approved, and implemented the state standards in secret without informing parents or any public comment period.

This was a step too far for many parents, even in relatively liberal Washington State. It became a cause célèbre of the local news cycle, even making national news for a time, causing a highly contentious showdown between parents, school districts, and state education officials.

Thousands of parents offered their disapproval by means of signing petitions and contacting the state department that oversees public education. Parents turned out en masse to school board meetings, only to be told that school districts believed they were legally responsible for implementing the state education standards.

Unfortunately, it soon became clear that the education bureaucracy had no intention of rescinding the standards. Many parents reluctantly resigned themselves to the latest diktat and moved on.

Not so in Battle Ground, Washington, where concerned community members and churches rallied to protect their children from the indoctrination being mandated from above. After learning that Washington law allows schools to avoid teaching the new standards if schools decide to no longer teach comprehensive sex ed altogether, parents began putting pressure on the school district to drop its comprehensive sex ed requirement.

Family Policy Institute of Washington (FPIW), a state ally of Family Policy Alliance®, worked with parents to develop the winning strategy. The school board ended up voting 3-2 to stop teaching comprehensive sex ed.

“Family Policy Institute of Washington has been privileged to be involved with the parents of Battle Ground for two years as they have stood firm for parental rights and not sexualizing children,” said Chris Platte, the policy director for FPIW.

The developments in Battle Ground, Washington, should give hope to other parents involved in related disputes in other parts of the country. This includes Austin, Texas, where distraught parents have found themselves in a similar battle.

Earlier this month, the Austin Independent School District (AISD)—the same school district that recently hosted a drag queen for “Pride Week Story Time” in one of its elementary schools—adopted a radical comprehensive sex ed curriculum, containing elements designed by  Canadian abortion providers.

According to Texas Values, a state ally of Family Policy Alliance, the curriculum includes lessons teaching students how to engage in anal sex ‘comfortably’ and how to procure birth control, abortions, and other ‘healthcare’ without the knowledge of their parents.

Like in Washington, AISD officials shut parents out of the process and ignored their concerns once the new curriculum came to light.  But hundreds of parents have shown up to AISD meetings and over 8,000 people have signed a Texas Values petition against the curriculum.

What does all this tell us? We need to be on notice that radical education bureaucrats want to socially engineer cultural perceptions of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

Many in the educational establishment don’t think parents should be trusted to make decisions about when and how to introduce these tremendously sensitive and intimately personal topics to children. Instead, schools keep pushing the envelope, undermining the role of parents and introducing sexual topics at earlier and earlier ages.

But we should also take heart. As the events in Battle Ground, Washington, show us, when parents get involved to defend the values they hold dear, real change can happen.

It’s worth it, after all. Our children are worth fighting for. And Family Policy Alliance, along with our network for over 40 state-based allies, will be standing with you side-by-side.

Standing Strong,

Blaine Conzatti
Director of Advocacy – Idaho

The Colorado sex-ed bill that we’ve been telling you about has been delayed but is about to be considered by another committee. On Tuesday, it is scheduled to be heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee – the last hurdle before going to the full Senate.

Please make your voice heard to this committee. You can send a note to the full committee in just moments at our Action Center.

Please also consider calling the members of the committee, especially these senators:

Sen. Mike Foote – (303) 866-5291
Sen. Julie Gonzales – (303) 866-4862
Sen. Pete Lee – (303) 866-6364
Sen. Dominick Moreno – (303) 866-4857
Sen. Robert Rodriguez – (303) 866-4852
Sen. Rachel Zenzinger – (303) 866-4840

Just ask them to vote against HB 1032, the sex ed bill.

As a reminder, here are some of the continued problems with the bill:

That’s right. There is so much that’s so bad about HB 1032 that little attention has been given to the fact that it requires that sex-ed programs teach children about abortion-inducing drugs. And, if the school opts to teach pregnancy outcomes, the school must cover abortion and present it equally with any other pregnancy outcome.

Parents from Boulder testified about similar programs in their child’s school – and how it “felt like the teacher was a preacher trying to convert” their 6-year-old to transgender. Expect more of the same statewide if HB 1032 becomes law.

While HB 1032 does require that parents be notified when children will be taught sexual education, there is no requirement that parents be notified when programming on gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation occurs outside of a specific “sex education” class.

This bill sets up scenarios where children as young as nine are taught how to “consent” to sexual acts. Can children that young really give meaningful consent?

Proponents claim that the bill does not override local control for school districts because it allows schools to choose between teaching 1032’s radical new proposal or declining to teach even a simple biology-focused sex education program. That’s hardly a real choice.

Thank you for taking action!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

We hope the outcry in Colorado continues to encourage parents in other states around the country to stay informed about what’s being taught in their children’s classrooms—and to do everything they can to protect their children from harmful ideology.

Stephanie Curry, Family Policy Alliance Policy Manager, wrote a guest column for The Daily Signal recently – Read her entire article: Colorado Sex Ed Bill Would Force Kids to Learn LGBT Ideology, Ban Talk of Abstinence

Once you have read Stephanie’s article, take action and let your Colorado State Senator know that you oppose the Sex Ed Bill. It is easy to make your voice heard in our Action Center!

The infamous Colorado sex-ed bill passed a Senate committee by one vote last week – putting it one step away from a full Senate vote.

Action is needed! Please scroll down for steps you can take.

While the committee passed several amendments to the bill, the substance of it remains essentially unchanged. Here’s where it stands:

  1. It promotes abortion to Colorado school kids.That’s right. There is so much that’s so bad about HB 1032 that little attention has been given to the fact that it requires that sex-ed programs teach children about abortion-inducing drugs. And, if the school opts to teach pregnancy outcomes, the school must cover abortion and present it equally with any other pregnancy outcome.
  2. It still requires schools to teach children about “gender identity,” including the medical means of gender transition such as drugs that stop the natural onset of puberty, cross-sex hormones, and even sex-change operations.Parents from Boulder testified last week about similar programs in their child’s school – and how it “felt like the teacher was a preacher trying to convert” their 6-year-old to transgender. Expect more of the same statewide if HB 1032 becomes law.
  3. There is NO requirement that parents be notified if the topic of “gender identity” is covered outside of sex education.While HB 1032 does require that parents be notified when children will be taught sexual education, there is no requirement that parents be notified when programming on gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation occurs outside of a specific “sex education” class.
  4. Children as young as nine will be taught how to “consent” to sex acts.This bill sets up scenarios where children as young as nine are taught how to “consent” to sexual acts. Can children that young really give meaningful consent?
  5. It overrides local control of school districts, mandating this radical version of sexual education on every public school, including charter schools.Proponents claim that the bill does not override local control for school districts because it allows schools to choose between teaching 1032’s radical new proposal or declining to teach even a simple biology-focused sex education program. That’s hardly a real choice.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

And, as always, please keep spreading the word! Thanks for your prayers and action on behalf of our kids!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

Two Competing Visions for American Education

It’s no secret that America is in the midst of cultural warfare—both sides with competing worldviews and visions for our country. But what you may not realize (or perhaps you do if you’re one of the many parents whose child recently came home from school asking whether it’s true that a boy can turn into a girl), is that our elementary school children are on the front lines.

The battle lines have been drawn between agenda-driven education vs. family-centered education.

There’s no way to sugar-coat it—the agenda-driven side is winning when it comes to public school education. But bear with me. As any soldier will tell you, situational awareness is critical—so is understanding what makes your opposition tick. So, please allow me to explain what agenda-driven education is and how it’s taking over our schools. Then I will share with you Family Policy Alliance’s vision for restoring family-centered education and ask you to join us.

WHAT DEFINES AGENDA-DRIVEN VS. FAMILY-CENTERED EDUCATION?

We’ve identified 4 key aspects that differentiate agenda-driven vs. family-centered education.

1. Children are tools to be used OR treasures to be cherished.

Those with an agenda-driven education policy are blinded to everything except their big cause—making it impossible for them to see and feel the impact on children.

The new “comprehensive sexual education” bill that just cleared the Colorado House is a perfect example of this. The bill requires that children as young as nine-years-old learn about explicit LGBT “sexual experiences.”

Our California ally warns about sexual education guidelines that require teaching children about having multiple sexual partners, allowing abortion providers like Planned Parenthood to be instructors, and warning children about “religion abuse” that would include “forcing others to adhere to rigid gender roles… . Not allowing a partner to do things they enjoy.”

It’s hard to imagine it could get worse, but it can. We’ve seen sexual education or “LGBT curriculum” legislation that specifically includes instruction about how “gender norms” are shameful and bigoted. They teach children that they may choose to “be a boy or a girl” and can access hormones and even permanent sex-change surgery that will allow them to be whatever gender they choose!

These curriculums fail to explain that hormones used in this way are experimental and can lead to problems with bone development and sterilization, that cross-sex surgeries have not proven to relieve mental struggles with gender dysphoria, or that 80% of children who struggle with gender identity but whose bodies are not altered by hormones or surgery go on to abandon confusion and grow naturally into adult life.[1]

Curriculum that advances a cause, regardless of whether children may be harmed, is agenda-driven. Children become tools instead of treasures to guide and nurture.

We envision a future where the impact on children is central to education policy and where families have access to school choice. When a school succumbs to a liberal agenda that harms children and disregards the values families are instilling in their children, families should have the freedom and financial means to select a better school. We shouldn’t underestimate the power of economic incentivization when it comes to influencing schools to do the right thing.

2. Families are excluded OR included.

Once again, Colorado’s new sexual education bill is a perfect example of agenda-driven education. The bill not only discourages parents from being involved—it’s a hostile takeover of parental rights. It provides no clear way for parents to opt their children out of the state’s agenda-driven sexuality curriculum.

Take another example. Late last year, New Jersey proposed a new Department of Education regulation that would require schools to keep vital information about a child’s gender identity secret from parents.  If a parent has a disagreement with their child’s gender identity, school staff are urged to review information on reporting child abuse.

When an agenda drives education policy, parents are simply in the way.

We envision a future where parents’ constitutional right to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children is restored—because parents are best situated to protect and instill values in their children. We are working with state allies in multiple states to advance legislation that restores parental rights in schools, children’s healthcare, and more.

3. Faith, and even other viewpoints, are censored OR welcomed.

The sponsor of Colorado’s sex education bill admitted publicly that the legislation is specifically intended to exclude faith-based views on sexuality from the classroom. The bill is worded so that it is outright censorship of families’ religious or traditional views on sexuality—making it clear that only the State’s preferred views on sex and sexuality will be tolerated.

Children as young as kindergarteners are targeted for “a re-indoctrination of values” in agenda-driven education. For example, California’s proposed curriculum states that “Dispelling myths about gender expectations in kindergarten can lay the groundwork for acceptance, inclusiveness, and an anti-bullying environment in school…” This means that families’ faith-based or even science-based views on biological sex are “myths” in need of dispelling and have no place in public schools.

We envision a future where both students and teachers can freely live out their faith in school—not forcing anyone to believe as they do, but praying together and for their school, and sharing their faith openly with others. We’re advancing legislation right now that makes clear that students and teachers have religious freedom rights in school. Isn’t it time for more of God in our schools—not less?

4. Curriculum is rewritten to fit a narrative OR teaches historical and scientific fact.

Take New Jersey’s new “LGBT curriculum” policy, signed into law by Governor Murphy, for example. Imagine a literature or history class where students are not just taught the historic contributions of literary giants like Emily Dickinson or former U.S. Presidents—but the curriculum also questions the sexual preferences of our national historic figures.

One textbook example ponders the fact that President James Buchanan “never married [and] had a very good friend who was living with him. He may have been gay.” Because of agenda-driven education policy, a former American president is reduced to the sort of suspect commentary we find in newspaper tabloids and gossip magazines.

We envision a future where parents can trust that their children’s schools will stick to instruction and not indoctrination. We asvance legislation that creates school choice opportunities for families, allows parents to review all curriculum, and ensures parents can opt children into curriculum that may be concerning—without worrying about having to opt out.

FAMILY-CENTERED EDUCATION:  HOW DO WE GET THERE?

  1. Christ-followers must take action.

Our theme verse at Family Policy Alliance is Daniel 11:32, “The people who know their God will stand firm and take action.” We must be salt and light in our community’s schools (whether private or public), and we must advocate for policies that put family-centered education first.

  1. The Church must be united.

When it comes to advancing agenda-driven education, extreme Left groups have been unified. Teachers unions, Planned Parenthood, LGBT activist groups, the ACLU, and others work as a team to advance their agenda sharing the same talking points, goals, and strategy. Jesus completely altered the course of history with 12 ordinary men—imagine what His Church could do if we all stood boldly together for Truth and for the sake of those around us, especially children.

  1. We must elect leaders with godly values.

We are so blessed to live in a country where we, as believers, have both the opportunity and the calling to speak into the direction our government takes. We can petition lawmakers, vote for the ones who most closely align with our values, hold them accountable with our votes, seek out new representation when we need to—and even run for office ourselves. May we never take this for granted as a way to actively love our neighbors.

We are committed to advancing family-centered education. If you agree, will you take action with us today?

Here are 3 ways:

  1. Consider giving a gift to support our policy work advancing the freedom for students and teachers to pray and share their faith in schools.
    GIVE NOW
  2. Do you know a current lawmaker or candidate for local schoolboard, state office, or even Congress who should attend our Christ-centered Statesmen Academy? Contact us to nominate someone at StatesmenAcademy@familypolicyfoundation.com.
  3. There are many bills—both good and bad—pending in states across the country, including bills that may impact state schools for better or worse. Check out our action center to see if there are any bills that need your voice in your state—and take action!
    VISIT THE ACTION CENTER NOW

May God give us the courage to boldly stand firm and take action,

Autumn Leva,
Vice President of Strategy

[1] Dr. Paul McHugh, Transgender Surgery Isn’t the Solution, The Wall Street Journal (June 12, 2014).

The Colorado House passed the horrific sex-ed bill sending it on to the Senate. That was expected. But the debate on the floor of the House was stunning with legislators claiming that Colorado schools were not adequately pro-LGBT and that God was not present in the House chamber. The bill is appalling, and the decorum has been worse.

Because of the nature of this debate and what is at stake, our partners at Colorado Family Action are hosting a prayer meeting around the Capital building on February 27th from noon to 1pm. Participants are encouraged to also make time to visit the Capitol after the walk to meet with their legislators.

Here is what you need to know:

Colorado Capitol Prayer Meeting
February 27, 2018
Noon – 1:00 PM

On the public sidewalk surrounding the capitol building

Capitol Building:
200 E. Colfax Ave.
Denver, 80203

After the Prayer Meeting Visit Your Legislator

General Instructions:

  1. To find your Colorado State Senator, go to the Family Policy Alliance Action Center and input your zipcode and/or address to find your legislator’s Capitol office location
  2. Pre-write a card thank your senator for their work and asking them to vote no on HB1032
  3. Clearly present your position on the bill if you get to speak directly with your senator: (i.e.: I am here today to ask for your “NO” vote on HB1032)
  4. Use the HB1032 talking points as evidence to support your position (see below)
  5. Thank the legislator for their time

Parking:

Click HERE to view a Google parking map.

Entering the Capitol:

North entrance (Colfax Avenue and Sherman Street), first floor public and group entrance.
South entrance (14th Avenue and Sherman Street), basement (ground) level visitors with special needs should use this entrance.

Please Note:

Talking Points:

We hope to see you there!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

I wish you could have been in the Colorado capitol a little while ago.

The Colorado House passed the horrific sex-ed bill – sending it on to the Senate. That was expected. But the debate on the floor of the House was stunning:

Indeed, an SOS is needed now. After all, here’s what this bill (HB 1032) does:

Now the Good News: Momentum is building to stop this bill, and the Senate gives more hope to do that. In addition, there was progress today, as a Democrat (Donald Valdez) voted against the bill, joining Republicans who were united in opposition. In the Senate, we’ll need two Democrats to join all Republicans in opposition.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Yes, this is an SOS. Thank you so much for heeding the call!

Autumn Leva
Vice President of Strategy

The controversial Colorado bill that would require that Colorado students learn about “the sexual experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, [and] transgender individuals” is about to be voted on by your state representative.

House Bill 1032, which we’ve been telling you about, is likely to be voted on in the Colorado House on Thursday. Though the bill is likely to pass the House, it is still vital that representatives hear from their people en masse.

We’ve seen it before, including last year in California: When the people make their voice heard at every vote – every juncture of the bill’s journey through the legislature – terrible bills like this one can eventually be defeated through growing controversy. Our best hope for winning is in the state Senate, but to do that we need to make our voices heard right now in the House!

Despite claims you may have heard in the media, this bill is still just as bad as ever. It still mandates that students are taught about LGBT sexual experiences. And it still forbids any teaching that even implicitly calls to mind moral teaching that has a negative view on such conduct.

Family Policy Alliance and our state ally, Colorado Family Action, continue to fight this assault on Colorado kids.  Will you join us today by taking action?

Here’s what you can do:

  1. Please send a note to your state representative. We’ve made it simple on our Action Center. You can send it there in just seconds.
  2. After you’ve sent your note, you’ll get a follow-up message with your state representative’s phone number. Please take a moment to call and politely leave a message asking them to oppose HB 1032.
  3. Share with others. Let’s build the momentum and raise an unmistakable chorus that can’t be avoided in the halls of the capitol!

Thanks for your prayers, your action and for spreading the word!

The Family Policy Alliance Team

And it’s only going to get wilder 

In Colorado, hundreds of people packed the State Capitol Wednesday to oppose a bill aimed at requiring the teaching of LGBTQ “sexual experiences” in public schools. Across the country, there was immense backlash by pro-life advocates when Virginia’s new governor, Ralph Northam, supported a late-term abortion bill and further advocated what is clear to several conservative leaders as infanticide – physician-assisted death of babies AFTER they are born.

What a wild week. But take a breath – it’s only going to get crazier. And just because you don’t live in Colorado or Virginia doesn’t mean the fight isn’t coming to your state soon. We’re seeing a well-organized campaign by abortionists and LGBTQ activists to infiltrate state legislatures to advance their harmful agendas.

The Colorado sex-ed bill would force the state’s viewpoint on sex and sexuality on every school, family, and child. It requires children to be exposed to explicit sexual content that teaches lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender sexual behaviors are a “normal” and “healthy” option for all our youth. If that isn’t enough, the state will also ban all views and content that contradict this ideology. This means sex-ed curriculums focused on only the scientific and biological aspects of sex and its consequences would be illegal. Curriculums promoting abstinence would be illegal. As we’ve seen in states like California and New Jersey, these comprehensive sex-ed bills are used to indoctrinate our children through graphic photos, language, and ideas that encourage our youth to explore their sexuality in ways most families believe are harmful and directly contradict their values.

Make no mistake: These bills masquerade as “comprehensive sexual education” bills, but they unlawfully censor foundational views of sex and sexuality, oppress parental rights, and advance a radical social agenda at the expense of our children.

Meanwhile, in Virginia, the controversy surrounding the most barbaric abortion laws we’ve seen prompted Governor Northam to state that even after a woman was dilating, she could have an abortion. He responded this way: “So in this particular example if a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen, the infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and the family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physician and the mother.” The discussion would be whether or not they would let a newborn live. The discussion would be whether or not to end that baby’s life.

This is infanticide, which is the crime of killing a child within one year of his or her birth. This is what radical leftists want. It’s the next step for the pro-abortion lobby who aren’t satisfied with late-term or partial-birth abortions.

Although it can be easy to grow tired or frustrated at the liberal “leadership” of governors like Ralph Northram or Colorado’s Jared Polis, we see God doing some wonderful things in the midst of what can seem like a relentless attack on His truth: 

  1. People are Taking Action. We are seeing an awakening of churches, Christ-followers, and conservatives to the very real threats our country and our faith face. And they are no longer silent! Thousands took action in Colorado this week. And conservatives aren’t letting Gov. Northam’s remarks go unchallenged. We have the opportunity now to work to “un-elect” these politicians in 2020 – with your help!
  1. Truth is Coming Out. There are many who have been “on the fence” or chose to stay silent about radical social issues like abortion and sex-education. No longer! People who have never spoken-up before are feeling a sense of urgency to speak truth for the sake of our children in schools and children in the womb! It’s far more difficult to censor biblical truths when those who believe in them speak publicly.
  1. Light Always Shines Brighter in the Darkest Places. When you start talking about aborting children while the mother is dilating, and openly talking about infanticide after delivery, we see how far from God our country has fallen. As those who are called to be Light in the darkness (John 5:14-16), we know that darkness cannot overcome Light (John 1:5). We, the Church, are the ones called to light up the darkness, and our country is at a point where believers are being called to shine even brighter—to speak truth even more boldly. And that is a good thing!

None of this is possible without your continued prayers and support. Be encouraged to shine your light in love, to speak truth, and to stand firm and take action! Our country needs the Church now more than ever.

Please check our ACTION CENTER to see if there’s an issue where you can help speak truth in your state or at the federal level.

Turning the Light back on with you,

Stephanie Curry
Policy Director

 

Colorado state legislators have introduced a bill that would require children in local public and charter schools to learn the explicit sexual techniques of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals.

Under HB 1032, not only would explicit acts be described to your children, but gender norms and gender stereotypes – like male and female – would be prohibited! If that isn’t bad enough, under this bill, faith-based values would be prohibited, while LGBT values would be required.

It’s time for Colorado parents to unite and tell legislators to back off of our kids and keep their ideology out of Colorado classrooms!

Here’s what you can do:

Thank you for taking action and spreading the word!

The Family Policy Alliance Team (in association with our state ally, Colorado Family Action)