Here are some samples of inaccurate statements from respected sources about the sex-ed bill that’s under consideration by state lawmakers. Read the bill text here.
Reinforcing an almost identical provision in a 2013 law, the sex ed bill allows schools to teach about the abstinence approach, but they must inform students about other forms of birth control as well. Abstinence education is not banned, but schools that choose to teach sex ed cannot focus solely on abstinence-only.
FALSE: State Rep. Mark Baisley (R-Teller) was quoted as saying: “It’s a violation of the First Amendment to the constitution by telling the school districts that you won’t talk about anything having to do with religion.” Former State Sen. Kevin Lundberg put it more bluntly on Facebook post. where he called the bill a “manifesto for rigidly requiring all schools receiving public funds to a new morality that is bereft of any actual morals.”
TRUE: The bill states specifically that it does not “prohibit discussion of moral, ethical, or religious values of individuals as they pertain to human sexuality, healthy relationships, or family formation.” Plus, parents can opt-out of sex ed for their kids, under Colorado law.
FALSE: State Rep. Paul Lundeen (R-Co Springs) told KVOR radio, “The way this thing is written, it’s vague enough to be applied to very, very young children.”
TRUE: The bill states that information should be “age-appropriate.”
False: A prominent sub-headline in The Denver Post Stated, “‘If you’re for House Bill 1032, then you’re for exposing 9-year-olds to sexually explicit techniques,’ one father said.’
TRUE: As reported by ColoradoPolitics’ Marianne Goodland: “Several witnesses incorrectly said HB 1032 would require teaching sexually explicit techniques to children as young as 9 years old (it wouldn’t) or that schools would teach sex ed without input from parents (state law already allows parents to opt out).
FALSE: “Basically, they bring Planned Parenthood in to teach your kids about everything,” State House Republican Leader Patrick Neville told KNUS. “
TRUE: No mention of Planned Parenthood in the legislation.
CORRECTION: This column was amended to represent House Bill 19-1032’s specification that while abstinence education may be presented with other choices (i.e., proper use of birth control, and safe sex practices) in the Comprehensive Human Sexuality Education program, “abstinence only’ instruction — whereby abstaining from premarital sex is presented as the only acceptable choice for individuals — would be banned.