SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Some parents feel that sexual health education lessons in California are inappropriate and now they’re calling on lawmakers to change them.
The most recent changes to the state's sex-ed requirements took effect in 2016 through the passage of Assembly Bill 329, also known as the Healthy Youth Act.
The law requires schools to provide “comprehensive” sexual health lessons for both middle and high school students. Age-appropriate lessons may be taught as early as Kindergarten.
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Parents may opt their children out to parts or all of the lessons by writing a letter to their child’s school.
AB 329 requires lessons aimed at providing students with a wide variety of health-based knowledge and skills that range from the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases to safe relationships and behaviors.
The state curriculum also incorporates gender identity and sexual orientation into lessons, with which some parents have taken issue.
“Sexuality should be taught at home, with the parents,” said Ella Loup, 39, a stay-at-home mother of two from Auburn. She joined hundreds of parents who rallied at the state capitol Thursday, calling for a repeal of the Healthy Youth Act.
The rally was organized by Informed Parents of California, a growing organization consisting of parents formed in opposition to AB 329 and similar laws education laws.
“We don’t disagree that people have feelings and that they can act on them. It’s the United States of America and it’s a free country,” said Aileen Blachowski, a co-founder of Informed Parents. “But we feel like indoctrinating children on these ideas, for which there is no scientific basis, is dangerous and wrong.”
Organizers are promoting Senate Bill 673 which would require permission slips for any sex-ed lessons for students lower than seventh grade.
In a statement, the California Department of Education says it values all of the concerns and input from parents regarding the Healthy Youth Act.
“Our priority is to make all children feel comfortable at school,” the department wrote in a statement. "Dispelling myths, breaking down stereotypes and linking students to resources can help prevent bullying, self-harm, feelings of hopelessness, and serious considerations of suicide.”
The California Department of Education went on to write that the current health framework and the Healthy You Act are in line with those goals.
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