1. United States
2. Mass.
3. Letter

I am writing as your constituent to urge you to oppose H.R. 7661, the “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act.” While the title may sound appealing at first glance, the actual language of the bill is dangerously broad and vague and would lead to harmful censorship in our public schools. H.R. 7661 would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to prohibit the use of federal funds for any programs, activities, or materials for children under 18 that the bill claims “include sexually oriented material.” But the bill’s definition of “sexually oriented material” goes far beyond protecting children from genuinely inappropriate content. It explicitly includes material that “involves gender dysphoria or transgenderism.” This language is not limited to explicit sexual content — it would apply to ordinary educational materials that simply mention or discuss LGBTQ+ topics, identities, or history. Experts and civil rights organizations have noted that this could effectively remove books that include transgender or LGBTQ+ characters and themes from school libraries and classrooms, ban relevant support groups and lessons, and force educators to avoid even factual or inclusive information out of fear of losing funding. The bill’s vagueness also raises serious constitutional concerns. By singling out books and educational content based on their subject matter, this measure risks violating First Amendment protections for free speech and academic freedom — not to mention the right of students to access information that reflects our diverse society. Moreover, similar broad language in other states has already led to extreme interpretations, where even books that contain LGBTQ+ characters but no sexual content are treated as banned content. Instead of advancing legislation that censors educational materials and discriminates against LGBTQ+ students, we should focus on policies that genuinely protect children’s wellbeing, promote inclusive learning environments, and support educators in providing accurate information. For these reasons, I strongly urge you to vote against H.R. 7661 and to oppose any efforts to limit students’ access to inclusive, age-appropriate educational materials. Thank you for your attention to this important issue. I look forward to your response on how you will represent the interests of all your constituents.