From Shame to Fear

Last weekend, the local "newspaper" ex-publisher/current columnist engaged in some good old fashioned "slut-shaming" and enhanced it with a touch a racism in an effort to kill AB 230. Who knew comprehensive sex education we at the center of this? And that's only the start of it.

Shortly after her stunning testimony last month on her life story and why she supports AB 230, Assembly Member Lucy Flores (D-North Las Vegas) received death threats. And then when AB 230 finally hit the Assembly floor, opponents uttered complete nonsense just before the bill passed anyway. So why are opponents so afraid of AB 230? That's a good question.

“There’s a whole mythology to this bill that has really gone off the tracks,” [Assembly Member David] Bobzien [D-Reno, and author of the bill] said. “We’ve diverted this whole conversation of an important policy issue to someone’s visceral worst-case scenario.”

The Reno Democrat said he’s worked with the advocacy and education group Planned Parenthood to introduce a bill that would update the state’s standards for sex education in public schools.

His goal is to standardize the state’s sex education law from the 1980s while respecting local school districts and the rights of parents. He also hopes the bill helps reduce Nevada’s teen pregnancy rate, which is the fourth-highest in the nation. [...]

Beyond what’s already taught, [CCSD Chief Lobbyist] Haldeman said the bill would add to the curriculum discussion of gender stereotypes, sexual exploitation and human trafficking, relationship negotiating skills, resources for counseling, “effective and safe methods of contraception,” and sexually transmitted infection screening and treatment.

And it's likely not a coincidence this is happening. We're really talking about common sense. This should have been fixed long ago.

As usual, the 21st Century Know Nothings are stirring up controversy in hopes of defeating the bill. Since the actual policy is quite straightforward, they must invent things to scare people. And when people get scared, wild things happen. (See above.)

At the heart of this controversy is fear. It's fear of the unknown. It's fear of "the other". And it's fear of empowerment. But really, why should we fear empowering our kids to make smart choices?