1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

I urge you to oppose the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act, which would prohibit federal funding for any educational program containing material involving gender dysphoria or "transgenderism" for individuals under 18. The term "transgenderism" is widely recognized as an anti-LGBTQ term used to pathologize transgender identity and frame it as an ideology rather than a fundamental aspect of human diversity. This sweeping ban would erase transgender students from school curricula and deny all young people access to age-appropriate information about gender identity. The bill defines sexually oriented material to include not just sexually explicit conduct as defined in federal criminal statutes, but also any content involving gender dysphoria or "transgenderism." This means that a book featuring a transgender character, a health class discussion about gender identity, or a history lesson about LGBTQ civil rights could all trigger the loss of federal education funding. Schools, libraries, and after-school programs receiving federal funds would be forced to remove these materials or face financial penalties. This content-based restriction constitutes viewpoint discrimination that raises serious First Amendment concerns. The legislation treats discussions of transgender identity as inherently inappropriate for minors, regardless of context or educational value. By incorporating definitions from federal criminal statutes originally designed to prosecute child exploitation, the bill conflates legitimate educational content with criminal conduct. Transgender students deserve to see themselves reflected in their education, and all students benefit from learning about the diversity of human experience. Excluding any mention of gender identity from federally funded programs marginalizes vulnerable young people and creates an environment where transgender students are rendered invisible. Research consistently shows that inclusive education improves outcomes for LGBTQ youth. I ask you to stand against this legislation and protect the rights of transgender students to exist in educational spaces. Schools should be places where all students can learn about themselves and others without censorship based on identity.