If you are struggling To keep track of the number of anti-LGBTQ+ education bills that would lead to widespread book bans across the US, know two things. First of all, you are not alone. Second, that is the issue, and why the Senate has now added its own book ban legislation to the mix.
- Senate Bill 4925 is a companion bill to HR 7661, which passed the House Education Committee in the spring and is now eligible for full House review.
- Senate Bill 4925 would withhold funding from public schools if they engage in teaching or providing āsexually oriented materials.ā More specifically, schools will be barred from using anything related to āgender dysphoriaā and ātransgenderismā (sic).
- Senate Bill 4925 makes exceptions for classic texts and artā¦ as long as they are materials included in a specific Christian homeschool curriculum or the 1990 edition of the Great Books of the Western World. Thatās rightāno books newer than 1990!
- These types of companion bills are indicative of legislative priorities, so thereās no mistake that the language is nearly identical to House Resolution 7661.
S. 4925 is now in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (AID). It also happens to be where HR 2616āthe national ādonāt say transā billāis right now. The timing is given deliberately, as both can be considered together.
The timing is also deliberate because Republican legislators hope no one will pay attention to them during the quiet summer session. Actually, S. It took three weeks for news of 4925 to emerge ā the bill was introduced on 24 June.
Itās time for you to act. Contact your senators to oppose S4925. If your senator is on the assistance subcommittee, it is especially important that you reach out to them. The Support Committee is in session today, July 22But at the time of writing, this billānor HR 2616āis on the agenda. -K.J
