EXCLUSIVE: Congresswoman Introduces Bill to Defund Explicit Content in Schools

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., has introduced a bill to prohibit federal dollars from funding sexually explicit content in schools.

The Stop Sexualization of Children Act would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to prohibit federal funds from promoting inappropriate materials, like books and curriculum featuring sexually explicit conduct or themes of transgenderism and gender dysphoria.

“Parents deserve complete confidence that their tax dollars are being used to promote academic excellence—not to expose children to harmful and explicit material that undermines their innocence,” Miller, who chairs the House Family Caucus, told The Daily Signal. “My legislation draws a clear and enforceable line to ensure our schools remain focused on education, not explicit ideological agendas or radical indoctrination.”

Miller saw a need for such legislation due to reports of obscene books available to children in school libraries, such as “Gender Queer,” “Lawn Boy,” and “All Boys Aren’t Blue.”

Some schools even host events with sexualized content. For example, a school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, recently hosted a performer who straddled a young girl in front of her minor classmates.

New York City recently spent more than $200,000 in taxpayer funds to support a group that sends drag queens into city schools, often with inappropriate clothing and without parental consent.

High schoolers in Elk Grove, California, attended a school-based performance that parents say included provocative dancing and stripping.

A number of pro-family groups endorse the bill, such as Family Research Council, Independent Women’s Forum, American Principles Project, Eagle Forum, Family Policy Alliance, Parental Rights Foundation, and Moms for America.

Bill co-sponsors include Republican Reps. Troy Downing of Montana; Randy Fine of Florida; Greg Steube of Florida; Paul Gosar of Arizona; Andy Ogles of Tennessee; Harriet Hageman of Wyoming; Marlin Stutzman of Indiana; Barry Moore of Alabama; Sheri Biggs of South Carolina; and Julia Letlow of Louisiana.

The bill does not prohibit funds from limiting instruction of standard science coursework, texts of major religions, classic works of literature, or classic works of art.