Maryland schools would teach kids that boys are presumed guilty of rape under approved bill
Maryland lawmakers introduced two bills this year that would teach “affirmative consent,” an impractical sexual-consent standard common on college campuses, in public school sex-ed classes. One was a countywide pilot program; the other would apply statewide.
Apparently the House of Delegates didn’t want to wait to see how the program worked in Montgomery County, just outside Washington, D.C.
The Washington Post reports the statewide “yes mean yes” bill (HB 1560) passed overwhelmingly in the House, with bipartisan support, and will be taken up in a Senate committee hearing April 5. (See how your member voted here.)
It was amended to give county boards of education the discretion to decide whether to include the affirmative-consent curriculum in sex-ed classes below 5th grade. At 5th grade and above, it’s required. The bill will take effect in July if signed into law:
Maryland lawmakers introduced two bills this year that would teach “affirmative consent,” an impractical sexual-consent standard common on college campuses, in public school sex-ed classes. One was a countywide pilot program; the other would apply statewide.
Apparently the House of Delegates didn’t want to wait to see how the program worked in Montgomery County, just outside Washington, D.C.
The Washington Post reports the statewide “yes mean yes” bill (HB 1560) passed overwhelmingly in the House, with bipartisan support, and will be taken up in a Senate committee hearing April 5. (See how your member voted here.)
It was amended to give county boards of education the discretion to decide whether to include the affirmative-consent curriculum in sex-ed classes below 5th grade. At 5th grade and above, it’s required. The bill will take effect in July if signed into law:
Advocates say the guideline could help prevent rape and ensure justice for victims. But critics say that in practice, affirmative consent is unrealistic and amounts to a “guilty until proven innocent” standard that could be unconstitutional.