Dear Editor,

I am writing again to inform your readers of some pending legislation in Maryland which may be of concern. Over 1,200 bills have been filed in MD this year, most of which are at best questionable.

I wrote previously about HB119/SB199 - “Primary and Secondary Education - Health Education Framework - Established” which would require all counties in Maryland to create an “age-appropriate” curriculum that is consistent with the Comprehensive Health Education Framework.

Our county commissioners and school board, thankfully, are in unanimous opposition to this legislation, but delegates and senators in other parts of the state need to hear from their constituents also. Perhaps your readers might reach out to friends and family in central and southern Maryland to make sure they are aware of the legislation and ask them to let their legislators know how they feel about requiring 7th grade students to “identify solo, vaginal, anal, and oral sex along with possible outcomes of each.”

In addition, the Framework requires that students in kindergarten through 2nd grade “recognize” and “identify a range of ways people identify and express their gender.”

Another bill of concern is SB0460/HB0283 “Maryland Medical Assistance Program - Gender Affirming Treatment (Trans Health Equity Act).” This legislation would require that all recipients of the program be provided gender-affirming treatment if medically necessary, including transgender, non-binary, intersex, two-spirit and other gender diverse individuals.

The bill does not exclude children or teens under 21 years of age from puberty blockers, cross sex hormones or surgery to remove breasts of reproductive organs for Sexual Dysphoria or Sexual Identity.

I have to ask - on what planet would people consider a 16- or 17-year-old qualified to make a life-altering, permanent decision to amputate breasts or organs or take puberty blockers, which would permanently alter their bodies?

I can’t believe that a majority of Maryland voters would agree with this, but, of course, they have to know about it. So, again, perhaps your readers can make sure family and friends in other parts of the state are aware of this legislation.

Legislation to support (in light of recent laws and proposed bills as above restricting parents’ knowledge, guidance or consent for minor children to make decisions for their mental or physical care of their identity) would be SB0566/HB0666-”Family Law - Fundamental Parental Rights.”

This legislation would establish that a parent has the fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education, care and welfare of the parent’s child, and prohibit the state or a political subdivision from infringing on these fundamental parental rights unless the state or political subdivision can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that this infringement is necessary to achieve a compelling government interest and is narrowly tailored.

Wasn’t it just a few years ago that we had a nationwide problem with young people eating laundry detergent pods, i.e. the “Tide Pod Challenge”?

Finally, there is SB0803 “Labor and Employment - Payment of Minimum Wage - Tipped Employees” which would completely change the restaurant industry and which has been shown, in states where similar legislation has been enacted, the drastically reduce the income of tipped employees.

The full text and status of these bills can be read at mgaleg.maryland.gov. You can also get the contact information for the sponsoring Delegates and Senators.

Carol Frazier

Ocean Pines