On Monday, Alliance Defending Freedom addressed the agenda of Tempe Union High School District’s Sex Education Curriculum Committee Meeting, set for Tuesday, January 7. In the agenda published by the Committee, Planned Parenthood Arizona, Inc.’s director of education, Vicki Hadd-Wissler, gets most of the scheduled time. One and a half hours are allotted to her, while less than fifteen minutes are designated to citizens who would like to give input.
According to the letter sent to the superintendent and the chair of the Sex Education Curriculum Committee:
The decision to implement Planned Parenthood AZ’s sex education curriculum, and the process by which, as appears, Planned Parenthood AZ is being given preferential treatment as compared to those who wish to advocate different views, gravely concerns Alliance Defending Freedom and the citizens it represents. Such an important decision should not be made in the first place; however, if the Committee (and subsequently the District) is determined to invite and pay for Planned Parenthood AZ’s sex education curriculum, far more serious consideration of the impact on District students and their parents must be undertaken.
The letter goes on to explain that Senate Bill 1009 requires sex education teaching to give preference to childbirth and adoption instead of elective abortion. Warning is given that if Senate Bill 1009 is violated, a lawsuit will be brought. Alliance Defending Freedom asks the committee for ten minutes of time during Tuesday’s meeting and that if Planned Parenthood does start sex education classes, equal classroom time be given to Christine Accurso, executive director of a Phoenix Pregnancy Center, or someone whom Ms. Accurso designates.
Natalie Decker, attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom, believes that allowing Planned Parenthood access to students would be a mistake:
It would be a terrible mistake for the district to allow Planned Parenthood to teach sex education to students. Students and parents deserve better. This is a very important issue which requires much more time to present and consider than has been allotted to the public. There are many viable alternative programs available at no cost to the district that support abstinence, childbirth, and adoption instead of abortion.
