To the editor:

Our two local Statehouse representatives, Susan Donovan and June Speakman, recently co-sponsored Rhode Island House bill 2022-7166 that, if enacted, would amend existing sex education legislation by adding the following language:

“Provided further, courses in family life or sex education shall be appropriate for students (in grades 6-12) of all races, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic and cultural backgrounds: affirmatively recognize pleasure based sexual relations, different sexual orientations and be inclusive of same-sex relationships in discussions and examples. In addition, comprehensive course instruction shall include gender, gender expression, gender identity, and the harm of negative gender stereotypes.”

The existing statute this bill seeks to amend addresses sex education but limits its focus to “teaching abstinence from sexual activity and refraining from sexual intercourse as the preferred method of pregnancy prevention and the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases.”

What in the world are Ms. Donovan and Ms. Speakman and other bill sponsors thinking of and hoping to achieve by pursuing such controversial and likely harmful legislation to young and impressionable middle and high school students?

Fortunately, this bill was recently heard and held in committee for further study. The same fate was met last year when nearly identical legislation was advocated by promoters of different and controversial life styles and sexual practices, including Ms. Donovan and Ms. Speakman. However, it needs to be understood that holding a bill in committee for further study does not mean it is not to be seen again until next year. The legislative process allows for some discretion for it to be called out of committee, voted on and possibly adopted.

In my view, the shame here, in addition to the toxic language of the bill, is that neither of our local state representatives made any effort that I am aware of to inform their constituents of what they were trying to accomplish in silence that likely would have such a potentially harmful impact on their children of such tender impressionable ages, with the resulting undermining of parents’ traditional family values, morals and religious beliefs. After all, should not the appropriate sex education of minors belong exclusively to the responsibility, authority and discretion of parents?

I believe Ms. Donovan and Ms. Speakman were totally out of line advocating without any effort at transparency for such controversial pleasure based sexual relations to be included in the health science curriculum of our public school curricula in grades 6 through 12.

Parents need to pay close attention to what is happening in the public schools. Become familiar with your child’s health science curriculum. Make an effort to attend school committee meetings to the extent you can. Know your child’s teachers. Speak with your child and be familiar with what is going on in the classroom.

Pete Hewett
11 Wendy Drive
Bristol