Earlier this year, the Alabama Legislature passed two laws regarding minors and how the so-called transgender agenda would be handled in the state's public education system.
From kindergarten until fifth grade, the topic is off-limits according to a part of a new statute, HB 322. Also included in that statute was language requiring public school children to use the restroom assigned to their biological gender.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a memo warning that some nutrition benefits, including assistance for school lunches, could be threatened if states did not reverse course on the types of actions that the legislature had taken.
During an appearance on Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5's "The Jeff Poor Show," State Rep. Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle), one of the chief sponsors of the legislation, rejected the Biden administration's threats and argued the state was willing to take precautions if those threats came to fruition.
"We have to draw the line in the sand somewhere, and on that athletics bill, I vividly remember several corporations threatening our state, making calls to the governor before she signed it, letting her know the consequences if she signed it, what we would be facing financially within our state, along with the federal government pushing," Stadthagen said. "You know, it's baffling to me that somebody can threaten you when you are passing legislation for the constituents of your state. We can't force people with finances like that. That's not the way the world works. At least that's not how state government works.
"I'll say this -- I mean, ever since Michelle Obama did her cafeteria stuff, the food hasn't been very loved anyway. If they try to do that, then we will take precautions that we need to take. But I'm not going to be threatened by no means, from the president or the federal government on feeding our kids. Our social agenda in our country right now is going in the wrong direction. You can't even watch TV anymore with your kids without certain things pushed on them that shouldn't be pushed on them. We had an amendment on the bill, on the bathroom bill you were talking about previously. And you know, we stated from kindergarten to fifth grade that sexual orientation and gender identity should not be discussed with these students. I wish we could do it for our TV as well because our kids right now are watching TV, and they're seeing stuff they should not be seeing or even have any knowledge of until they're an appropriate age. And they're pushing this agenda on our kids to make it more acceptable when they become our age. It's a sad day, really."
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com.
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