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New sex education curriculum approved by state commission Parents protest, citing loss of religious freedom Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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CITY HALL BUT THEY WOULD NEED TO LEAVE BY 6:00 IN THE MORNING. GULSTAN: HUNDREDS OF PARENTS WERE AT THE STATE CAPITOL TODAY, PROTESTING NEW GUIDELINES FOR SEX EDUCATIO >> I HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE LESSON PLANS IN PLAY HERE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU STAND POLITICALLY, I THINK SOME OF THEM ARE QUITE SHOCKING. >> WE JUST WANT SAFE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR OUR CHILDREN. THIS IS A CRITICAL STEP FOR US TO MOVE THAT. EDIE: KCRA 3’S MIKE LUERY WAS AT TODAY’S RALLY AND JOINS US WITH MORE ON THIS VERY DIVISIVE TOPIC, MIKE? REPORTER: THAT’S RIGHT. WE MET PARENTS TODAY FROM PALM SPRINGS TO ORANGE COUNTY TO SACRAMENTO. THEY SAY THEY’RE CONCERNED THAT A NEW SEX EDUCATION CURRICULUM GOES TOO FAR AND TAKES AWA THEIR PARENTAL RIGHT OVERFLOW CROWDS TODAY AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIO AND PASSIONATE PARENTS AT THE STATE CAPITOL. WHERE THEY ARE EXPRESSIN OUTRAGE OVER POTENTIAL NEW GUIDELINES FOR TEACHING SEX EDUCATION IN THE CLASSROOM. >> WE LEFT THE FORMER SOVI UNION WITH OUR PARENTS TO HA THE FREEDOMS THAT AMERICA HAS. AND THEY ARE BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM US FROM UNDERNEATH OUR NOSE. >> I DON’T FEEL IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR TEACHERS TO DO THAT. I WOULD PREFER FOR CALIFORNIA TO GET BETTER IN ACADEMICS THAN IN THE SEXUALIZATION OF CHILDRE REPORTER: THESE PARENTS ARE CONCERNED THE NEW GUIDELINES WILL LIKELY INCLUDE NEW LANGUAGE IN SEX ED DESIGNED TO MAKE GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER STUDENTS FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IN THE CLASSROOM. TAMI MARTIN IS WITH EQUALITY CALIFORNIA. >> AN LGBTQ INCLUSIVE CURRICUL BENEFITS ALL STUDENTS AND MAKES ALL SCHOOLS SAFER BECAUSE WHEN LGBTQ STUDENTS FELL ACKNOWLEDGED AND WELCOME AT SCHOOL, ALL STUDENTS BENEFIT >> I WANT TO BE IN RECORD IN OPPOSITION TO THE SEX ED CURRICULUM. REPORTER: A SPECIAL COMMISSION IS MEETING TODAY TO CONSIDER THE NEW HEALTH CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK THAT MAY INCLUDE UPDATED GUIDANCE TOOLS FOR TEACHERS,WITH THIS GOAL. >> I VALUE THEIR INPUT AND THEIR CONCERN AND I THINK WE CAN AGREE WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO HAVE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AT SCHOOL. WE ARE FIGHTING AN ENTRENCHED BUREAUCRACY. REPORTER: BUT FOR THESE PARENTS THE ISSUE IS MORE ABOUT RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND NOT IMPOSING GOVERNMENT VIEWS ON SEX EDUCATION. >> WHAT YOU DO FOR YOURSELF IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR OWN HOME IS ONE THING. BUT TO BRING THIS INTO THE CLASSROOM AND PARTICULARLY WITHOUT PARENT SUPPORT IS INEXCUSABLE. AND WE’RE ONLY ASKING FOR TRANSPARENCY. WE’RE ONLY ASKING TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS REPORTER: THE INSTRUCTIONAL QUALITY COMMISSION HAS BEEN SWAMPED WITH PARENTS TODAY GIVING STATE EDUCATORS AN EARFUL ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ON THIS VERY POLARIZING ISSUE. A VOTE IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY, . GULSTA IF THESE NEW CURRICULUMS ARE APPROVED, DOES THAT MEAN TEACHERS HAVE TO USE IT IN THEIR CLASSROOM? REPORTER IT IS NOT MANDATORY. THE STATE HEALTH FRAMEWORK HIM IF APPROVED, WILL HAVE A GUIDANCE DOCUMENT THAT DISTRICT MAY USE FOR HEALTH EDUCATION. THAT INCLUDES NUTRITION, MENTAL HEALTH, ALONG WITH SEXUAL HE