By L.A. Williams
Christian Action League
July 14, 2022
Whether or not North Carolina students in kindergarten through third grade will be taught about gender identity and sexual orientation is in the hands of Tar Heel voters who could, this fall, give the Republican Party the supermajority it needs to make House Bill 755 — the Parents Bill of Rights — the law of the land.
Formally titled An Act to Enumerate the Rights of Parents to Direct the Upbringing, Education, Health Care and Mental Health of their Minor Children, the common-sense legislation would require schools to inform parents if children asked to be called by a different name or pronoun in school and would allow parents to review materials used in class and ensure that they have a mechanism to file a complaint if they find them objectionable. It would also require school administrators to alert parents about matters relating to their children’s “mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being.”
“Parents have a God-given right, a constitutional right, and a responsibility to control what is taught to their children without government interference. Our nation is religious, and many people of faith believe the concepts of gender identity and sexual orientation are far removed from their religious values. They believe these beliefs and behaviors are immoral,” said the Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League. “It’s not that they want their children to be completely insulated from the subjects, because we live in a diverse world. But they don’t want this purposely taught to their children as a part of the curriculum, especially when they are still very young and impressionable.”
“Children should be raised and supported by parents who love them and know what’s best for them, not progressive educators and LGBTQ activists,” he added.
The bill passed the Senate on June 1 by a vote of 28-18 but was not voted on by the House, likely because supporters knew they lacked the number of votes needed to override a promised veto from Gov. Roy Cooper. To override that veto, the GOP must pick up three more seats in the House and two in the Senate during this fall’s election.
“It cannot be emphasized enough how important it is for Christians to be informed about these issues and vote in ways related to them at the next election. With Gov. Roy Cooper as the Chief Executive of this state for the next two years, organizations like the Christian Action League and lawmakers with proper values will be hamstrung unless a super majority of Republicans is elected in both chambers that can override the governor’s vetoes,” Creech said. “Call that partisan if you wish, but it’s just the lay of the land politically.”
Polls show widespread support for the Parents Bill of Rights. A WRAL survey revealed that 58 percent of North Carolina adults support banning instruction about sexual orientation or gender identity issues for K-3 students, with 45 percent strongly in favor of such a ban.
“We don’t need a poll to know that North Carolinians want our children to focus on the basics in the classroom,” Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) told the media. “What this poll confirms is that people understand that the subjects of gender identity and sexual orientation are not appropriate for our youngest and most impressionable students. The Parents’ Bill of Rights has broad public support and should become law.”