In Utah, UEA, PTA and Democrats Asking for Sex Education Bill Veto

Groups opposing a bill that would allow Utah schools to drop sex education, and prohibit those that choose to offer it from discussing contraception, are urging Gov. Gary Herbert to veto HB 363.

The Utah Education Association Friday sent a letter to Herbert asking him not to sign the bill into law. “Frankly, we see ... this as a need to protect children who may not have the opportunity to get the needed information on critical issues that are life-saving in some cases,” said UEA spokesperson Kory Holdaway. The Utah Parent-Teacher Association sent its own letter that day making the same request, said President-Elect Liz Zentner.

Also on Friday, the Utah State Democratic Party released a statement “demanding” the governor veto HB 363. The Democrats’ news release included a link to an online petition started Wednesday by a retired firefighter and school bus driver. As of Friday afternoon, the pro-veto petition had more than 25,000 signatures.

Gubernatorial spokesperson Ally Isom said Thursday night Herbert would “do due diligence to review [the bill], hear both sides, sort the facts from the rumors, and make the best decision based on policy, not politics.” That evening, Herbert commented on HB 363, saying “the intent here really is that parents and guardians should have the foremost authority of giving sex education to their children. And I realize that families are different but the primary focus should be on parents and them taking on that responsibility.”

Bill supporters say sex education is best left to parents, and abstinence is the only sure way to prevent pregnancy and STDs. Sponsor Rep. Bill Wright (R-Holden) has said no school districts had asked for the option of skipping sex education altogether, but he included it to give districts greater local control.

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