MARYLAND — Lawmakers in the Maryland Senate are divided over what constitutes age-appropriate education for children. This ongoing debate stems from recent legislative efforts, including House Bill 380, which sought to introduce vending machines offering contraceptives and other health-related products in schools. The bill failed, prompting the Maryland Freedom Caucus to celebrate the defeat, calling it a victory for parental rights and child protection. The caucus now turns its attention to House Bill 161, which they argue further threatens parental control over children’s education. The bill aims to introduce gender ideology and sexual orientation as standalone components in the school curriculum, beginning as early as kindergarten. While parents can still opt out of the general health education curriculum, they would no longer be able to opt out of the gender and sexuality sections, which is a major concern for those who support parental choice. Delegate Matt Morgan, chair of the Maryland Freedom Caucus, emphasized that parents should have the right to discuss these sensitive topics at home, rather than in the classroom. However, HB 161’s supporters, including its co-sponsor Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary, argue that the bill creates an inclusive, age-appropriate curriculum that addresses a range of health and emotional issues, including substance abuse, mental health, and family life, alongside sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill has garnered support from advocacy organizations like PFLAG Salisbury, which calls for a comprehensive and inclusive health education curriculum. The group believes it is essential to ensure LGBTQIA+ students receive an accurate and relevant education, addressing gaps created by local school boards’ control over curricula. At the federal level, President Trump’s executive order calls for defunding school districts promoting gender ideology. However, the Maryland Department of Education has expressed that HB 161 is redundant to existing regulations and counters the process entrusted to local boards. Delegate Morgan, however, argues that the bill reflects a broader shift away from academic focus and toward social engineering. He believes that rising home-schooling and private school enrollment reflect growing dissatisfaction with the current direction of public education. HB 161 passed the House with a 95-39 vote and is now under review by the Maryland Senate’s Education, Energy, and Environment Committee. This marks the third year the bill has passed the House, but it has yet to clear the Senate committee.
