FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 8, 2020
CONTACT:
Kevin Carns, 360-870-5778 or
Johnny Alvarado, 703-999-3783 or
PARENTS FOR SAFE SCHOOLS
GOVERNOR INSLEE: VETO MANDATORY SEX ED FOR KINDERGARTNERS BILL
Today, House Republican leader JT Wilcox and Senate Republican leader Mark Schoesler announced the formation of a committee, Parents for Safe Schools which is committed to having the Governor veto ESSB 5395 or—if he refuses—rally Washington parents to overturn it via referendum at the ballot box.
Parents for Safe Schools launched a petition on March 5. By 7 p.m. on March 8, the site had 21,455 online signatures registered against ESSB 5395.
ESSB 5395 is a bill sponsored by Sen. Claire Wilson (D-Federal Way). The companion bill HB 1407 was sponsored by Rep. Monica Stonier (D-Vancouver).
ESSB 5395 is known as the Sex Ed For Kindergartners bill. It will force sex-ed curriculum on every school kid in the state from kindergarten through 12th grade. Kindergartners will be encouraged to question the traditional role of genders. In each subsequent grade, the material gets more graphic and more controversial.
The bill passed after hours of highly charged debate in both the House and Senate chambers. Republican Caucus members in both chambers pleaded for amendments to allow parents more control of their kids’ education on this matter. Democrats rejected almost every effort to significantly reform the bills.
Rep. Wilcox said, “I am a father and a grandfather. These are young children. The youngest are still learning to tie their shoes. The state is going to take away parental rights and force a curriculum that is not age appropriate. That is outrageous. Nothing we do in Olympia is more important than protecting our kids. We will fight this with every tool at our disposal.”
Sen. Schoesler said, “Parents from all over the state have been flooding our offices pleading for more control over teaching their kids sex ed. But Democrats have been determined to cut parents out. Parents are rightfully outraged, I am outraged”.
ESSB 5395 first passed the Senate, then passed the House. On March 7, the Senate agreed to the House’s amendments. All Republican Caucus members voted with parents. All Democrat Caucus members voted to override most parents’ wishes with a curriculum imposed on all kids statewide.
Governor Inslee has 20 days from the end of session on March 12th to sign or veto the bill. Parents for Safe Schools urges a veto by the Governor. Senator Schoesler stated, “Governor Inslee, this Sex Ed for Kindergartners bill deserves your veto. Parents from all over the state are outraged on forcing this on their children.”
According to Rep. Wilcox, “In my time in the legislature, I have never seen people so angry about a bill. All across the state, parents have delivered a unified message: don’t get between me and my children. We agree with them”.
Parents for Safe Schools is prepared to ensure that the people of the state of Washington get to overturn ESSB 5395 via referendum if Governor Inslee will not veto the bill.
Sen. Schoesler said, “Democrats need to learn to listen to the people. They did not on car tabs. They did not on race-based quotas. Listen to the people, Governor Inslee. Veto this bill.”
If a referendum is needed, 129,811 signatures will need to be gathered by June 10 to get the repeal on the November ballot.
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