With sexualized curricula becoming more common in schools across the country, Oklahoma state Sen. Nathan Dahm (R) has introduced a bill similar to Florida’s recently approved Parental Rights in Education law.
The bill Dahm presented — H.B. 1074 — would prohibit public school educators from teaching lessons about sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten through fifth grade, according to KFOR-TV. The proposal would also require any curricula taught in sixth through 12th grade to be catered to the respective ages of the students.
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“There is absolutely no reason we should be teaching or talking about sexual orientation or gender identity in elementary school,” the state senator said in a statement. “Kids need to be learning their ABCs and how to read and write – not that a man can be a woman if he feels like it, or vice versa. I applaud the state of Florida for enacting this measure, and call on my colleagues in Oklahoma to follow their lead and do the right thing to protect our children.”
Dahm also presented H.B. 1076, which would bar any person under the age of 18 years old from undergoing surgeries or treatments to alter their bodies to align with their transgender identity, KOKH-TV reported.
“If we can’t trust those under 18 to purchase or use tobacco and alcohol, they aren’t mature enough to make a long-term decision like changing their gender,” said the lawmaker. “As gender reassignment surgery has become more and more common over the years, we are now hearing stories of transgender adults who are reversing these procedures because they realize they made a grave mistake. And unfortunately, their bodies are mutilated because of it. This legislation would protect these vulnerable individuals from making rash decisions without fully thinking them through.”
While these topics might, at times, feel abstract, that is certainly not the case. The issue of sexuality in the classroom — particularly as it pertains to kids — is very real.
CBN News reported earlier this month that Oklahoma State University hosted a “Drag Queen Story Hour” geared toward children as young as two years old. The event was part of the school’s “Pride week.”
The April 9 event featured two local drag queens reading books “highlighting inclusion and acceptance” to the child audience. After the reading, the kids were invited to participate in “come-and-go craft” activities. A flyer for the drag-queen event targeted kids ages two to 10.
The two drag queens reportedly read the books “Speak Up” by Miranda Paul and “Red: A Crayon’s Story” by Michael Hall. The second chronicles the story of “blue crayon mistakenly labeled as ‘red,'” an allegory for transgenderism.
When CBN News reached out to the university, a spokesperson, Shannon Rigsby, said the flyer for the event “was an early draft that was incorrect,” adding, “It had not been updated on one website to reflect that it was a public event. The flyer was removed as soon as we were made aware.”
Rigsby also provided a statement from OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum, who said she “became aware of the event when members of my executive team brought a social media post about the event to my attention.”
“The post prompted an immediate and strong reaction from people offering a variety of opinions and comments,” she said. “While this event was open to the public, the attendance of elementary-aged children was one repeated concern. I appreciate the many different inputs and perspectives and will take them into consideration. I also have concerns.”
“As a state institution,” the president continued, “we are committed to ensuring events and programs align with our education, research, and extension mission. Additionally, we must consider if events and programs complement our historic values.”
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