Yesterday, the @TXSBOE gave preliminary approval to health curriculum standards that cover #SexEducation. Unfortunately, board members voted to ignore LGBTQ people.

A #TeachTheTruth #Thread

The SBOE did make some improvements, like including info on contraception. But, in a tragic failure, the board refused to even acknowledge the existence of LGBTQ people in the standards. #TeachTheTruth

It is, in fact, tragic because research shows that nearly 60% of LGBTQ students feel unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation and nearly 45% because of their gender expression. #TeachTheTruth

Polling shows that 75% of registered voters in Texas, including 65% of Republicans, agree that “to help prevent bullying of LGBTQ youth, TX public schools should include standards around cultivating respect for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation or identity.”

In giving its initial OK to the standards, the board ignored hundreds of testifiers over several months who overwhelmingly supported a set of standards that are LGBTQ-inclusive. #TeachTheTruth

The board will take a final vote on this tomorrow. So we have one final chance to push board members to do the right thing and vote for standards that recognize the humanity and dignity of LGBTQ people. #TeachTheTruth

We want to thank board members @ginaTXSBOE1, @Marisa4PubEd, @RubenforTexas, @AllenJr26, @aicha4education and @MRDist7SBOE. They have supported making the standards LGBTQ-inclusive. #TeachTheTruth

We ask the other @TXSBOE members who voted against LGBTQ-inclusive sex ed standards to reconsider their votes and listen to constituents like @amandablakec.

https://twitter.com/amandablakec/status/1329477444760449025

#TeachTheTruth

We encourage everyone to tell the @TXSBOE that you support inclusive standards.