This group got sex-ed textbook pulled. Leader linked to controversial Miami private school
The group called County Citizens Defending Freedom — whose objections about sex education material persuaded the Miami-Dade School Board to pull a textbook this week — cites Biblical principles in its mission statement, lists conservative and politically active Christian groups as partners and invites activists to become “ambassadors for freedom.“
The Miami-Dade chapter, which formed in October, filed a 278-signature petition urging the district to remove “Comprehensive Health Skills” from use. The book, which comes in middle school and high school versions, covers topics from nutrition and exercise to sexually transmitted diseases and gender identity. The group objected to terms like “gender fluid” as well as lessons on emergency contraception pills and other issues it deemed offensive, including having kids seek out a trusted adult when bullying and other difficult situations arise.
Pressured Polk County School Board to remove books
County Citizens Defending Freedom has previously succeeded in pressuring the school board in Polk County in Central Florida to remove books it claimed were “offensive” and undesirable,” according to a MediaMatters report. Like in Miami-Dade, the group submitted to the district a petition, claiming parts of the book were not age-appropriate and contained “ideology” the group found objectionable.
READ MORE: Sex-ed textbook rejected by Miami school board after parents invoke ‘Don’t say gay’ bill
The group’s mission statement on its website states, “We believe in God, country, family, and freedom. We believe America is the greatest country in the history of mankind because of the Judeo-Christian beliefs and value system that the Founding Fathers were influenced by when they created the founding documents.”
Miami parent behind campaign sends kids to Centner Academy
Among its listed partners: Turning Point USA, Liberty Counsel, Patriot Academy, Liberty Pastors and other national groups with conservative political viewpoints that have been involved in promoting activism at the local level across the country. The website claims it has signed up 2,307 ambassadors for freedom and has won four legal battles in 24 months.
Alex Serrano, the group’s Miami-Dade County director, who led the challenge against Miami-Dade’s textbook, has no children in the public school system. He told reporters he sends his children to Centner Academy, a Miami private school with a controversial anti-vaccination agenda. Last year, the school said teachers and staff who got vaccinated for COVID-19 could not interact with students and would risk losing their jobs.
READ MORE: Miami private school Centner Academy won’t employ vaccinated teachers, staff
Serrano told the Herald Thursday that the organization became involved when “breaches of liberty,” or anything that deviates from the nation’s founding documents, were believed to be identified in the materials. The group contends the textbooks violated Florida’s new parental rights law, even though that law applies to gender identity or sexual orientation instruction in kindergarten through third grade, not middle and high school classes.
“I’m currently not a parent of MDCPS students, but I’m a county resident and I submitted by objection as a individual because statute provides that I’m a stakeholder in the matter,” he said.
READ FOR YOURSELF: This report details the objections to Miami-Dade’s sex-ed textbook
Though the group succeeded in convincing the board to pull the textbook, that came over the objections of all but a few of the 40 speakers during the hours-long school board meeting Wednesday night. Those in favor of the material urged the district to keep the book in use, saying it covered issues important for the health of young people and that a small group shouldn’t dictate decisions for a massive school system.
Maxx Fenning, president of PRISM Florida, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit that provides access to LGBTQ-inclusive education and sexual health resources for youth, told the board that comprehensive sexual education “saves lives.”
After citing statistics such as “young people ages 15-24 make up 25% of all new HIV infections in the U.S.,” he said comprehensive sex education gives young people the “tools they need to protect themselves if and when they decide to be sexually active.”
“The board members that voted no just gave the governor more ammunition in the defunding of public schools,” said Janielle Murphy, a board member of P.S. 305, a Miami nonprofit representing a diverse group of families on local educational issues. “Instead of the small percentage of parents being able to opt out of the curriculum, as allowed (by the state), they have opted the entire district out.”
This story was originally published July 22, 2022 at 1:01 PM.
