School psychologists, GOP lawmakers clash over sex education bill

GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) – Republican lawmakers in South Carolina are asking public schools to end their contracts with a national mental health association after a push through a bill called the “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act.”

If passed, HR 9197 would have prevented federal funds from “developing, implementing, or facilitating any sexual programs, events or literature for children under the age of 10.”

The bill was co-sponsored by Republican legislators Jeff Duncan, William Timmons and Ralph Norman.

In October, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) sent a letter to Congressional offices saying they “vehemently oppose” the bill and asking lawmakers to publicly condemn it. The organization says the bill is harmful to LGBTQ youth and would limit the rights of parents to participate in their children’s education.

“This legislation ignores the fact that there is no credible evidence that having honest and affirming conversations about all identities will prepare a young person to achieve an identity or orientation other than their own,” writes NASP executive director Kathleen Minke. “Furthermore, the bill ignores the wealth of evidence demonstrating that the inclusion and positive representation of LGBTQ+ persons in school instruction and respect and recognition of students’ gender identity or sexual orientation prevents suicide and other demographic events for LGBTQ+ youth.”

In response, Duncan, Timmons and Norman were among the legislators who urged Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman to require all public schools in the state to terminate any partnership with NASP and establish a South Carolina chapter.

The group of lawmakers says NASP’s opposition to HR 9197 “makes an egregious and dangerous slander in support of explicit sexuality education and gender identity indoctrination.” Lawyers said they are now concerned about the educational materials and resources used by NASP in schools.

A spokesperson for NASP said their letter sent in October speaks for itself and they have no further comment on the response from the congressional GOP.

NASP reads the full letter below:

Read the full letter from Republican lawmakers below:

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