NC Education Committee discusses bill to limit LGBTQ+ issues in curriculum

RALEIGH, NC (WNCN) — House Bill 755 was introduced by Republican leaders from North Carolina during a news conference at the State Legislature Tuesday.

This law, if passed, will restrict discussions of sexual orientation and gender identity issues in certain state classrooms.

On Wednesday, the North Carolina Education Committee discussed the bill when Senator Deanna Ballard (R-Wilkes) introduced it.

“Today’s bill is intended to really empower our parents to play an active and present role in their children’s education,” she said.

However, some senators had questions about the bill, wondering if it was sending the wrong message to citizens.

“The bill can certainly be interpreted as a signal outside of North Carolina that our state is not a welcoming place,” Senator Jay Chaudhuri (D-Wake) said during the committee discussion.

Sen. Ballard said the bill is necessary to strengthen relationships with parents, the school and the community itself.

The bill calls for the ban on LGBTQ+ topics in the curriculum for K-3 grades. The bill also requires parents to be notified when students from kindergarten through high school question their sexual identity in school. It also gives parents access to their child’s health and privacy records, among other things.

“Parents have rights, and most of those rights are already enshrined in law,” said Sen. Gladys Robinson (D-Guilford).

Sen. Chaudhuri said parents are particularly concerned about one thing at the moment.

“Really as a parent … I mean, that’s what’s really close to my heart at this moment, the right to protect our kids in the schools,” he said.

After the committee raised its concerns, members of the public were given an opportunity to comment. A representative from Save Our Schools gave their testimony as to why they would oppose the bill.

“As a formerly abused child, I was nine years old when Mrs. Corinda called my mother to tell her something I had disclosed about what was happening at my home. I don’t remember if I was hit that day, but I do remember my mom screaming traitors at the top of the stairs,” she shared. “If you force schools to tell parents what children have revealed to them, you are harming children.”

Meanwhile, others agree that such legislation is necessary.

“There’s no room for that in the classroom. They should learn basics, not gender or gender identities. So thank you for your leadership,” said an NC Values ​​representative.

Government Roy Cooper shared a statement on the bill:

“Schools are grateful for committed parents and we need more of them working with teachers to raise our children. However, the last thing our state needs is another Republican political ploy like the bathroom bill that is hurting our people and costing us jobs, so let’s keep the don’t say gay culture wars out of North Carolina classrooms. “

Wednesday was just a discussion, and the Senate is not expected to vote on the bill until next week.