CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Parents participated in the #SexEdSitOut movement on April 23 by taking their children out of school in protest of what they call “graphic, gender-bending sex education.”
Many gathered in uptown Charlotte Monday afternoon for a rally, speaking out against the sexualization of children in public schools.
Tami Fitzgerland, executive director of the North Carolina Values Coalition, said parents and their values are being ignored by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education, especially when it comes to its "Welcoming Schools" curriculum.
"Welcoming School"s is a set of professional development resources that is aimed at “embracing family diversity, supporting LGBTQ-and gender-inclusive schools, preventing bias-based bullying, and supporting transgender and non-binary students."
However, the North Carolina Values Coalition believed the program’s unstated goal is indoctrination and seeks to “transform societal morals through this normalization process.”
“Nobody believes that any child should be bullied for any reason, but 'Welcoming Schools' goes above and beyond teaching children not to bully,” Fitzgerald said. “It actually indoctrinates children about sexual orientation and gender identity.”
NBC Charlotte reached out to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for a copy of its sex education policy.
According to the Reproductive Health and Safety Education Curriculum, students in fifth grade and above are taught about abstinence, STDs, and contraception. However, parents have the opportunity to review these materials and opt their child out.
Parents like Nisha Giri believed it was her job and right to teach her children what she wants them to know about sex and what age it is appropriate.
“I think it’s up to parents and families and churches and religious institutions and scripture to be able to teach the finer details of sexuality,” Giri said.
Other parents believed there is a place for sex education in schools.
“If parents were having these conversations, then it wouldn’t end up in the classroom,” said a parent. “I don’t see what the problem is with facts.”
More than 40,000 people signed an online petition through the North Carolina Values Coalition in support of #SexEdSitOut, hoping their voices are heard to keep the broader sex talks out of schools.
“That tells you a lot, that parents want to be the only ones who present these tough issues to their kids,” Fitzgerald said.