Oklahoma bill that could require school counselors to out students advances

The bill requires any materials on sexuality given by a counselor to a student be disclosed to parents, potentially forcing counselors to out students, endangering their lives.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

An anti-LGBTQ bill that has politicians on both sides of the aisle confused and alarmed passed the Oklahoma’s House State Powers Committee on April 13, and it is now heading to the Oklahoma House floor.

The Oklahoma Senate passed Oklahoma S.B. 615 with a vote of 39-7 during Wednesday’s legislative session, with every Republican voting in favor.

Related: Oklahoma is advancing a bill that would criminalize school librarians over LGBTQ books

Authored by state Sen. David Bullard (R), S.B. 615 states that if a school counselor were to give any material of any kind related to sexual orientation and gender identity to a student (even in a confidential meeting), the counselor would be forced to disclose said material to the parent.

According to KFOR, state law says that teachers and administrators have to disclose and make available to parents materials dealing with sexual education, specifically, those dealing with sexual orientation and gender identity.  S.B. 615 wants to include school counselors on that list, confusing politicians on both sides of the aisle.

If passed, any and all instructional material – including pamphlets, textbooks, and other documents – or discussions meant to “elicit responses on sexual behavior or attitudes” would have to mandatorily be disclosed to any parent of a student participating in the activity.

Politicians on both parties worry this would…

Read full story, and more, from Source: Oklahoma bill that could require school counselors to out students advances