Education Board Gets Earful From Kearney Residents About Proposed Health Ed Standards

Members of the Nebraska Department of Education board heard from the public in Kearney Friday on proposed health education standards for students across the state. The first draft of the proposed standards was released earlier this year and includes controversial sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) curriculum. Abbi Swatsworth is the executive director of LGBTQ advocacy group Out Nebraska and told board members the standards are a step in the right direction.

“Young people are increasingly telling us who they are,” Swatsworth said. “It is our duty as parents, educators, faith and community leaders to honor their truth. Health standards that do not include SOGI send the message that LGBTQ students are not worthy of being educated.”

More than 75 people signed-up to speak at the meeting, and most were against the proposed health education standards, including Karen Bowling, the executive director of the Nebraska Family Alliance.

“We believe schools should teach basic biological facts and anatomy without introducing age-inappropriate, unscientific ideas about sex, sexual orientation or gender identity,” Bowling said.

The Department of Education is working on second draft of the health education standards that should be released this summer. Board members will vote on the final standards sometime in the fall.