HHS Urges California to Eliminate Gender Ideology from Education Curriculum

On June 20, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) communicated with California, instructing the removal of gender ideological references from its education curriculum, suggesting that failure to comply may result in loss of federal funding associated with sex education programs.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) reported concerns regarding materials developed through California’s Personally Responsible Education Program (PREP), a federally backed initiative aimed at sex education. They flagged content deemed inappropriate for younger students, emphasizing that PREP’s goal should focus on providing medically accurate information rather than ideological perspectives.

A HHS press release noted, “After reviewing the materials submitted by California, ACF identified concerning content that implies gender identity differs from biological sex, stating that boys can identify as girls.” They asserted that such materials, which promote gender ideology, do not align with the objectives of personal responsibility education mandated under PREP regulations.

The California Department of Public Health has yet to respond to requests for comments on the situation.

In a related move, HHS sent letters to various health care providers and state health boards, urging them to revise treatment protocols for minors experiencing gender dysphoria based on a comprehensive review of treatment options like adolescent blockers and cross-hormones, which were found to be lacking.

ACF was tasked with ensuring that California’s educational materials meet the grant’s requirements of being medically accurate and comprehensive. A letter from ACF Secretary Andrew Glaujun to the state highlighted findings indicating that students were being educated on topics like transgender identities and healthcare changes.

Among the findings was a middle school curriculum titled “Rights, Respect, and Responsibility,” which included lessons aimed at students who identify as “genderqueer,” suggesting that this information could be seen as problematic.

Additionally, high school materials specifically addressed topics like hormone therapies and surgical procedures associated with gender transition, as outlined in the letter. For instance, students were informed about medical transition options, including hormone therapy and gender-affirming surgeries.

HHS also communicated that the previous administration would not condone the use of federal funds for programs that promote inaccuracies about gender identity. “The administration stands firmly against using federal resources to instruct children with misleading gender ideologies,” an official stated. They emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in educational resources, aiming for parental awareness of school teachings.

ACF has mandated that California must eliminate all references to gender ideology from its educational resources, requiring compliance within 60 days, with subsequently approved materials to be submitted to ACF for review.