LANSING, Mich., Oct. 21, 2021 — State Reps. Regina Weiss (D-Oak Park) and Rachel Hood (D-Grand Rapids) introduced a bill package yesterday to provide much-needed changes to the health education curriculum taught to students around the state.
“How we teach our students about sexual education plays a vital role in their ability to develop safe and healthy relationships,” said Weiss, sponsor of House Bill 5476. “Not teaching our students the whole story around sex can have serious implications. Consent and sexual misconduct prevention need to be at the core of our sexual education curriculum to ensure we create a more safe and just society for everyone.”
Hood sponsored HB 5475, which would amend the Revised School Code to require that the sexual education curriculum be inclusive, medically accurate and objective. HB 5475 would require affirmative consent and prevention of sexual assault and dating violence be taught during health classes.
“We must move our sexual education curriculum into the 21st century and equip our students with the knowledge they need to navigate our ever-changing world,” Hood said, “This legislation is an important step to give our students the information they need to form healthy relationships, identify sexual assault and dating violence, understand consent, and be supported in respectfully learning about gender and sexual identity.”