Policy | Family Talk

Dr. James Dobson Applauds Florida Legislature’s Effort to Protect Parental Rights

Written by Dr. James Dobson | March 11, 2022
I applaud Governor DeSantis and the Florida legislature for passing the Protect Parental Rights Bill. There has never been a more critical time for parents to be involved in their child's education, and the leadership of Florida is making that possible for parents in their state.

Tragically, children are being exposed to sexually explicit material in the classrooms when they should be protected. Early exposure to sexual content has been shown to affect mental health, life satisfaction, sexual behavior and attitudes, and viewing patterns of pornography in adulthood. Much of what passes for sexual education today would have been considered grooming in years past—because it is! How can we not protect our youngest against such vile and insidious indoctrination?

It is without question that public schools are contributing to the dramatic rise in children identifying as transgender. Extreme, left-wing groups have used books like I am Jazz and Jacob's New Dress to teach students as young as kindergarteners that their biological sex is actually fluid. They don't answer questions for children; they only create mass confusion. This isn't compassion; it is child abuse.

When children genuinely experience gender dysphoria or simply fall victim to the social contagion of transgenderism, schools have conspired to keep parents in the dark about what is happening in the lives of their kids. Freemont High School, in California, is doing just that. They have created "transition closets," encouraging children to change clothes upon arrival at school without their parents' knowledge. This is outrageous!

Thank goodness that the leadership of Florida is wisely, courageously, and clearly recognizing this. Children do not belong to any government entity; by God's design, children belong to their parents, and they have the right to know what is being taught in the schools.

Ensuring that parents are the primary influence in their children's lives should not be partisan, it should be common sense. However, the intense, national opposition to the Protect Parental Rights Bill illustrates why it is necessary. No one should want kindergartners through third-graders introduced to conversations about sexuality and gender identity at school, but it is apparent that many in the public education system want to do just that.

Thankfully, the legislative leadership in Florida is not afraid to stand up for parents and their children. They have joined tens of millions of American moms and dads who are saying, "Enough is enough! It's time to put parents in charge again."

We hope and pray many other states will follow Florida's bold example. We also ask you to join us in letting Governor DeSantis know that we stand with him.

Contact Governor DeSantis