I serve on the Sex Education Advisory Board for the Mount Pleasant School District as a clergy representative. At our meeting this week, both a vote taken and the discussion surrounding it were disturbing to me. They represent the presence of extreme far-right thinking here in this community. The context of the vote and the discussion were the proposed renewal of the 6th grade sex education curriculum, with updates by the author. The objections that were voiced focused on how the topic of gender expression is presented in the classroom; and on the inclusion of a lesson on intersectionality, how race and other identities overlap with sexual and gender identities. The spokesperson for the objections cited the thinking of Ron DeSantis as influencing her opinions, and as a model for how we should approach sex education topics. When the question was called to a vote, 6 people agreed with her and 4 dissented, meaning that the board voted against approving the 6th grade sex education curriculum before us. I have followed a lot of what Ron DeSantis has done and said in Florida. His policies are blatantly anti-transgender. His education policy prohibits teaching the truth about race, racism, and slavery in this country. Until now, my concern and outrage about DeSantis’ ideas and policies has come from afar. It was very different this week to hear the same ideas quoted and applauded in person. The principles of racial equity and truth-telling; and of rights and dignity for people of all genders are Unitarian Universalist values. That is NOT what makes them indispensable principles for public education, however. Religion (even my religion, my beloved and liberal-minded UU religion) must not dictate policy in public schools. Racial equity and truth-telling, and rights and dignity for people of all genders are principles of a just society. The ideas of Ron DeSantis—echoed here in Mount Pleasant--are contrary to these principles and I will continue to oppose them. Finally, I don’t believe that any people are bad people. My fellow members on the Sex Education Advisory Board who voted against me are decent human beings and I will always be open to dialogue with them, seeking understanding while being grounded in love. PRAYER: May truth, love, and compassion enlighten all of us. May our discussions, our social justice work, and our public service be informed by love. May love strengthen us in the struggle for a more just world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. Amen. Rev. Andrew Frantz |
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Rev. Andrew FrantzUUFCM Minister Office hours:
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April 2024
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