During Friday’s debate in the Colorado House of Representatives on a bill that aims to improve sex-ed programs, State Rep. Perry Buck (R-Windsor) argued against what she referred to as the bill’s “one-size-fits-all” definition of consent, which she suggested varies depending on where you live.
Republicans have been railing against the Democrats’ sex-ed bill since it was introduced, but their criticisms have mostly centered around the bill’s ban on abstinence-only teachings.
The bill’s requirement that sex-ed programs include lessons on consent hasn’t been quite so controversial.
Buck, however, appears to be immune to the growing cultural awareness around the importance of consent, saying in so many words that the definition of consent should vary depending on who you are and where you live.
“You cannot do a one-size-fits-all. My district, the unincorporated God bless them all, don’t want to be told what they think is consent, what they think is their curriculum, everybody has different degrees,” said Buck.
The bill defines consent as “the affirmative, unambiguous, voluntary, knowing agreement between all participants in each physical
Consent has long been defined in state law, as it forms the basis for numerous crimes.
Republicans have also criticized the bill for recognizing the existence of LGBTQ people and requiring that abortion be presented as an option when discussing
Despite these criticisms and conservatives’ misinformation campaign against the bill, the Youth Wellness Act passed a vote in the House and is now up for consideration in the Senate.
