1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I am writing to strongly urge you to oppose H.R. 7661, also known as the "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act." While the title sounds protective, the bill is a veiled attempt to codify book bans and institutionalize discrimination in our public schools. The legislation uses dangerously broad language that labels topics like "gender dysphoria" and "transgenderism" as "sexually oriented material." By threatening to withhold essential federal funding, this bill forces schools to preemptively purge libraries of any literature featuring LGBTQ+ charact ers or themes. This is a direct attack on the freedom to read and a calculated attempt to erase the lives of queer people from American public life. Education should be a space where all students feel seen and represented, not a place where identities are treated as inherently "indecent." We must protect our public education system from being used as a tool for federal censorship and political marginalization. Please stand up for the First Amendment and the rights of all students by voting NO on H.R. 7661.