This week, the New Jersey State Assembly approved bill A4454. If the bull is signed into law, it would mandate sexual orientation and gender identity diversity lessons for all kindergarten through 12th grade students.
 
The bill would update the New Jersey Student Learning Standards to promote “economic diversity, equity, inclusion, tolerance, and belonging in connection with gender and sexual orientation, race and ethnicity, disabilities, and religious tolerance.” Opponents of the measure argued it tramples on the rights of parents and exposes children to these topics at too young an age.
 
“There’s a certain level of naivety that our children enjoy, and we should really protect that,” said Assemblyman Brian Bergen, R-Morris, who said he supported a previous version of the bill that was limited to grades 9 through 12. “If we as parents want to explain different identities or sexual preferences then that’s our prerogative and our choice. This is not a decision for the school system, and this is not a decision for the Legislature.”

The new curriculum would be taught in schools beginning in the 2021-22 school year.The current school year brought a new LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum to New Jersey middle and high schools. That law requires schools teach middle- and high-schoolers about the political, economic, and social contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. New Jersey is the second state to mandate an LGBTQ-inclusive curriculum.