State Rep. Jaime Greene today announced her opposition to a plan introduced in the Michigan House this week that would impose a statewide curriculum for sex education, radically altering the way schools approach this sensitive subject.

“This proposal is a major shift away from the values and principles that have guided sex education in Michigan for decades,” said Greene, R-Richmond. “It strips away proven, commonsense approaches like teaching abstinence, and instead pushes an agenda that many families will find deeply concerning.”

House Bill 6068 would make sweeping changes to existing sex education standards, including:

• Shifting away from abstinence education: The legislation deletes language that promotes abstinence as a positive lifestyle choice for unmarried young people, sending mixed messages to students about responsible decision-making.

• Eliminating adoption education: It removes directives to teach about adoption, diminishing awareness of this important option for those facing unplanned pregnancies.

• Allowing access to contraceptives in schools: The bill removes language that prevents schools from distributing a “family planning drug or device,” allowing them to distribute condoms and paving the way for schools with health clinics to provide birth control.

• Mandating lessons about sexual orientation and gender identity: Schools would be required to “affirmatively recognize” that individuals have different sexual orientations and gender identities and provide kids with examples of “various gender relationships.”

“While not every aspect of the bill is negative, the focus should remain on promoting healthy, responsible behaviors that equip young people with the skills they need to make good decisions,” Greene said. “Stripping away abstinence education and other proven approaches in favor of controversial content does a disservice to our students.

“When parents feel that the curriculum contradicts their values or goes too far, they will pull their kids out of these classes and students will miss out on essential information about their own bodies, consent, and how to protect themselves. The unintended consequence of this bill could be a generation of students less informed about crucial health and safety topics.”

House Bill 6068 was introduced this week and referred to the House Education Committee, where Greene serves as the Republican vice chair.

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