The innocuously-named “Act Relative to Healthy Youth” (Bill S.2541) is currently being considered for approval by the Massachusetts legislature.

If passed into law, it would require all schools to provide,

age-appropriate teaching of…and age-appropriate information about:  (1) gender identity and sexual orientation for all students, including affirmative education that people have different sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions; and (2) resources and support services for all students, including, but not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, agender, queer and questioning students.

Additionally, all school districts (including charter schools) would need to file a biannual report with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) describing the curricula offered, the hours spent on the curricula, and the number of students receiving these lessons.

Parents must be notified and may withdraw their children from the lessons. According to the bill, each school district

shall adopt a written policy ensuring that parents and guardians are notified of: (i) the comprehensive sexual health education provided by the school; (ii) the right of a parent or guardian to withdraw a student from all or part of the instruction; and (iii) the process for a parent or guardian to notify the school of a student’s withdrawal. The policy shall also include a process for a parent or guardian to inspect the program’s instruction materials prior to the start of the course if the parent or guardian requests to review the materials.

Students who refuse to participate cannot be subjected to any disciplinary action from the school. Nor may they incur any type of academic penalty.