LANSING, MI – Earlier in November, the Michigan State Board of Education opted to approve an updated health education curriculum for students as young as 13 years old wherein they’d be instructed on concepts like “gender ideology” and “sexual orientation,” according to reports. This move by the board was passed by a majority despite hundreds of parents who opposed the measure either in person or via signed petitions.
A contentious board of education meeting was held on November 13th in Lansing, with advocates and opponents sharing their opinions regarding a then-proposed update to state health education standards, which would introduce gender identity and sexual orientation concepts to middle schoolers.
According to a report from ABC 12 regarding the board meeting, “More than 100 people signed up to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting, either in person or online, prompting the board to limit each person to one minute.” In-person and online speakers were largely split on either opposing or applauding the updates, which were ultimately approved by the board in a 6-2 vote.
One public commenter, Eileen McNeil, highlighted the concern over the board quickly approving the measure after only roughly two-and-a-half hours of public comment. McNeil, who serves as the president of Citizens for Traditional Values, said during the meeting, “What is the hurry? Why now? Why today? Why this? If you really want to address health and sex ed, let's take time.”
John Grossenbacher, a parent from Clinton Township, was among those opposed to the proposed update to the health curriculum, having personally organized a petition that garnered over 1,600 signatures asking the board to reject the proposal.
Yet, it seems the comments made by locals in favor of gender ideology being injected into the school system resonated with the board, with some public commenters even mocking parents opposed to the proposal, while others claimed parents don’t have a right to dictate on the topic of gender identity in schools.
Stella Shananaquet stated during her public comment at the meeting, “Deniers lost the bathroom wars, so here we are again with it wearing a different dress. Nobody's teaching your kids gender identity. They already know. They're just too scared to tell you about it. The bottom line is you don't have to believe in it. You don't have to accept it, but it exists.”
Another speaker who self-identified as a scientist said before the board: “As the parent of a trans child, and a professional scientist, I strongly support the standard…The most reliable source of knowledge is science, not – so I’m sorry – parents do not know best. Science knows best. Experts know best.”
One example of the updated sex-education standards says that by grade 8, students should be able to “define gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, and explain that they are distinct components of every individual’s identity.”
Parents may opt out of this instruction; however, such a standard, while allegedly still voluntary for parents to opt in or out of, explicitly reveals an effort to indoctrinate young people into adopting gender ideology as an unquestionable creed.
A contentious board of education meeting was held on November 13th in Lansing, with advocates and opponents sharing their opinions regarding a then-proposed update to state health education standards, which would introduce gender identity and sexual orientation concepts to middle schoolers.
According to a report from ABC 12 regarding the board meeting, “More than 100 people signed up to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting, either in person or online, prompting the board to limit each person to one minute.” In-person and online speakers were largely split on either opposing or applauding the updates, which were ultimately approved by the board in a 6-2 vote.
One public commenter, Eileen McNeil, highlighted the concern over the board quickly approving the measure after only roughly two-and-a-half hours of public comment. McNeil, who serves as the president of Citizens for Traditional Values, said during the meeting, “What is the hurry? Why now? Why today? Why this? If you really want to address health and sex ed, let's take time.”
John Grossenbacher, a parent from Clinton Township, was among those opposed to the proposed update to the health curriculum, having personally organized a petition that garnered over 1,600 signatures asking the board to reject the proposal.
Yet, it seems the comments made by locals in favor of gender ideology being injected into the school system resonated with the board, with some public commenters even mocking parents opposed to the proposal, while others claimed parents don’t have a right to dictate on the topic of gender identity in schools.
Stella Shananaquet stated during her public comment at the meeting, “Deniers lost the bathroom wars, so here we are again with it wearing a different dress. Nobody's teaching your kids gender identity. They already know. They're just too scared to tell you about it. The bottom line is you don't have to believe in it. You don't have to accept it, but it exists.”
Another speaker who self-identified as a scientist said before the board: “As the parent of a trans child, and a professional scientist, I strongly support the standard…The most reliable source of knowledge is science, not – so I’m sorry – parents do not know best. Science knows best. Experts know best.”
One example of the updated sex-education standards says that by grade 8, students should be able to “define gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation, and explain that they are distinct components of every individual’s identity.”
Parents may opt out of this instruction; however, such a standard, while allegedly still voluntary for parents to opt in or out of, explicitly reveals an effort to indoctrinate young people into adopting gender ideology as an unquestionable creed.
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Comments
2025-11-17T12:00-0500 | Comment by: Robert
I hope these Michigan parents now realize the Importance of electing a school board that respects the Parent to be the final decider of what their Children are to be taught! This decision to Indoctrinate instead of Educate is Outrageous and usurping the Ultimate authority of the Parents is Reprehensible!
2025-11-17T19:57-0500 | Comment by: James
These idiots are sick! Hope you like it Michigan!!! Your children are being brain washed!