Wisconsin Republicans pass parental rights bill but face uphill battle with Democratic governor

Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin passed legislation this week that would give parents the right over their children to determine what name their child is called in school as well as the pronouns associated with their child.

The bill also gives parents and guardians the right to pull their children out of classroom discussions on gender, race, sexual orientation, structural racism, or other topics they find personally or religiously inappropriate.

The bill, which passed 62-35 in the state assembly on Thursday, has an uphill battle in the state Senate. If it garners enough support in the Senate, it will go to Gov. Tony Evers (D-WI), who has vetoed similar legislation in the past. Despite previous challenges, the bill’s sponsor,
Republican state Rep. Robert Wittke told reporters he is hopeful for a different outcome this time. 

“At some point in time, we have to get back to the way Gov. [Tommy] Thompson governed, and that was that we do things for what’s best for the families in Wisconsin and not be in that partisan divide continually,” he said. 

The bill would also give parents the right to sue the school district if it doesn’t adhere to the proposed changes.

Critics argue the legislation will inflict trauma on children who are gay and transgender if they are prohibited from participating in general or sexual orientation discussions. 

“Once again, I’m here on this floor disheartened and discouraged that legislative Republicans are making Wisconsin’s kids political footballs,” Democratic state Rep. Robyn Vining said during debate on the bill. “Culture war after culture war, you’ve taken aim at the LGBTQ+ community. And more recently, you’ve given yourself permission to take aim at kids.”

Democratic state Rep. Melissa Ratcliff argued the bill would open the door to “misgendering, deadnaming, and psychological harm for an already disenfranchised community.”

The hourslong debate got heated after Democratic state Rep. David Considine, a teacher and a parent, suggested, “Parents don’t always know best. Let’s be honest.”

Republican state Rep. Karen Hurd called the comment “a lie from the pit of hell” and said the implication that she, as a parent of five children, didn’t know what was best for them was “offensive.” 

Evers vetoed similar legislation in 2022. He said that while parents are the “first and best teachers” children have, he was “vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to sowing division in our schools, which only hurts our kids.”

Parent’s rights bills have been introduced in at least two dozen states, according to tracking by FutureEd.

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Four states have enacted them, including Florida, where the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law forbids “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels or in a specified manner.”

Evers and Wisconsin lawmakers did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s calls with requests for comment.