By Stacey Lennox 6:46 PM on October 04, 2022
In the “Commitment to America,” Republicans propose a parent bill of rights for K-12 education. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is under fire for giving parents the right to be notified if their child is expressing gender dysphoria and requiring children to use the appropriate bathroom. While the media and radical trans activists have criticized both moves, polls show most voters reject explicit sexual content, and parents want to be involved.
A new poll from Rassmussen Reports is no exception. A large majority of likely voters (77%) are at least somewhat concerned that school-age children get exposed to sexually explicit material that is not age appropriate. Even 61% of Democrats and 50% who call themselves liberal fall into this category. In all gender, race, and age categories except for voters 18-39, 50% or more say they are very concerned. Oddly, likely voters in major cities are a bit more concerned than those living in small cities and suburbs.
Without exception, a majority of likely voters across race, gender, and age groups say they believe it is at least somewhat likely that sexually-explicit materials are available in public school libraries. Nearly two-thirds of parents and grandparents of school-age children agree. More than two-thirds of likely voters say it is very important that parents are fully informed about what their children get taught in the classroom. Only respondents identifying as Democrats or liberals deviate significantly from the top line number.
The Rassmussen poll is unique because it breaks out the type of content likely voters object to. A majority of likely voters, 54%, at least somewhat oppose schools teaching about homosexual lifestyles. A plurality of men and women strongly oppose teaching about the topic. So do a plurality of parents and voters not affiliated with either party.
When it comes to teaching children about transsexualism, significant pluralities of men, women, and all races strongly oppose the curriculum. Self-identified Democrats and liberals only strongly oppose at rates of 18% and 13%, respectively. These voters, along with voters aged 18-39, those who at least somewhat approve of Joe Biden, and those without a religious affiliation are the only groups where a clear majority does not at least somewhat oppose classroom instruction on trans issues.
