A bill restricting students' pronouns is drawing local opposition.
Indiana House Bill 1608 prohibits instruction about human sexuality to kids in kindergarten through third grade. But an amendment would also require schools to notify parents if students request to be called by a name, pronoun or title that's inconsistent with their sex assigned at birth.
Lake Central parent Jillian Schranz asked the school board Monday to reach out to lawmakers, calling the bill harmful and unnecessary. "This legislation certainly doesn't represent the majority of families that I've met in this district, who I find to be compassionate, supportive people who are just looking to do what's best for our kids," Schranz said.
LGBTQ+ inclusion has been a heated topic at Lake Central. Last fall, school administrators ordered high school teachers to remove rainbow flags and other classroom decorations, drawing backlash from many parents and students, but school officials felt that guidance from the Indiana Attorney General's Office gave them little choice.
Lake Central School Board member Dr. Janice Malchow called for the board to put together a unified approach for these types of bills. "I just don't like what's coming out of either the state level or the federal level," Malchow said Monday.
She also criticized lawmakers for making decisions regulating public schools, while sending their own kids to private schools.
House Bill 1608 passed out of the House and has now been referred to the Senate Education and Career Development Committee.
