There are many CIPS parents who have been conflicted on whether on not to support two policies, pieces really, of Kentucky legislation that will ban teaching lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in elementary schools
The two policies came as the result of the controversial Kentucky Senate Bill 150, a law passed in March that banned gender-affirming care for Kentuckians under the age of 18 and established new mandates related to sex education as well as education related to human sexuality and gender identity.
Basically, Kentucky’s version of Florida’s "Don't Say Gay" bill.
More specifically, the original summary of the bill states:
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to establish definitions; require specific parental notifications from public schools; require school districts to adopt specific procedures related to parental rights; limit authority of the Kentucky Board of Education and Kentucky Department of Education in relation to parental rights and a student's use of pronouns; prohibit district or school policies with the intent of keeping student information confidential for parents; prohibit a school district from requiring school personnel or pupils to use pronouns for students that do not conform to that student's biological sex; provide school districts and district personnel authority to seek emergency medical services for a student; provide conditions for student confidentiality; amend KRS 158.1415 to establish requirements for any public school's course, curriculum, or program on the subject of human sexuality.
Not only does the vagueness of this bill make it dangerous, but it’s reverting back to a time of the past.
There was a time, not too long ago, that it was school policy to detrimentally separate students because today the color of their skin. Yes, we have elected a Black US president and yes, we have elected a female US vice president of both African American and Indian heritage and yes…even here in Covington, we have an African American school superintendent. Despite the aforementioned, it doesn’t mean that the targeting of certain types of individuals and depriving them of what they need is not still common practice…and Kentucky Senate Bill 150 just facilitates the normalization of exclusivity policy making…not to mention the ill- effect on LGBTQ+ students.
The decision made by the Covington Independent School Board to accept this legislation was done out of direst of being sued by the Kentucky Board of Education which brings into question why our approval was needed in the fist place. But as Amber of that Board, I stand with the decision.
But I also stand by the sentiment expressed by our Board president, Tom Haggard, where we are going to continue to stand with our Queer students, youth of color and their supporters.
No one is forcing straight kids to do anything but be straight. Why can’t we let all of our kids be the way that they were meant to be and lend them support in doing so when and how they need it?