Delegate Acts To Remove Parental Opt Out From Portions Of State's Heath and Sex Education Curriculum Dealing with Gender Ideology and Sexual Orientation In Grades As Low As Kindergarten
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If you ask anyone in Maryland about State Delegate Vanessa Atterbeary (D), you will get very interesting responses. You'll hear "powerful" and "determined." But, you will also hear the words "hypocrite," "nasty," and "liar". These descriptions come from those who have had to work with her or testify in front of her in the Maryland House of Delegates.
Atterbeary's history shows that she is clearly a person who sees power as the utmost in political capitol. Since her election in 2014, she has risen in the ranks to be Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, allegedly using strategic removals to eliminate more senior delegates in her way. From her website: (Vanessa Atterbeary | Delegate District 13 | Howard County, Maryland)
One of the most interesting parts of the above statement is that Delegate Atterbeary is so interested in Maryland public schools and keeping them strong. One would think that her children attend public schools.
They do not.
Atterbeary's children attend an Elite Howard County Private School: (This is information Atterbeary shares freely on social media.)
Here is how much that school costs:
She has three children. That's a lot of money.
But, I'm sure she has her reasons. As a parent (and public-school teacher) who sent my children to private school for eight years, I know my reasons for doing so. I was very transparent about my reasons, which were to assure my children had the best education possible, and I didn't deny others of their parental rights. Both of my children graduated from the local public high school.
I don't deny Atterbeary the right to make parental decisions for her children. She is probably like millions of parents who want to make sure their children get a good education that is consistent with their beliefs and not filled with indoctrination into beliefs contrary to their own.
But if you are a State Delegate who sends your children to an elite private school where you can exert your influence over what your child is taught, you shouldn't deny public school parents their rights to control what their children are taught in public schools.
It seems to be "Rights for Me But Not For THEE!" attitude by Delegate Atterbeary. The video below is a discussion between Atterbeary and Delegate Latoya Nkongolo, Anne Arundel (R), regarding HB 161, a bill which would FORCE local jurisdictions to adopt the full Sex and Health Education Framework and would not allow parents to opt their children out of ANY lessons on gender identity or sexual orientation:
Vid01 010624 H2v2 YT 16x9 Kevin
Interesting points in the video. First, Ms. Atterbeary doesn't seem to have a working knowledge of different sections of the law that she is so attached to. Second, she is extremely dismissive and arrogant to Delegate Nkongolo, which we understand is not unusual for the Chairman. But what are her motives to bring this bill up for the THIRD YEAR IN A ROW and to defend it so vehemently?
Here are two articles about the law, the vote, and Atterbeary's motives:
Maryland House votes to require schools teach about gender identity | WYPR
Republicans, Democrats debate right age to teach gender, sexual orientation in schools
Based on the article, Attebeary's drive to this change for the third year in a row is motivated by the fact that one Maryland school system, Carroll County, DARED to defy the state's mandate regarding the curriculum. “The reason for this bill is to ensure that every jurisdiction in our state is compliant with the framework that the state board created,” she said on the House floor Friday.
See that word "compliant?" Apparently, Atterbeary doesn't like it when counties don't bend the knee to what SHE wants. Seems petty and vindictive.
The bill:
2025 Regular Session - House Bill 161 Third Reader
Below is the document Atterbeary wants changed so that parents cannot opt out of sections regarding gender ideology or sexual orientation in grades as low as Kindergarten:
Maryland Comprehensive Health Education Framework
After looking at the website for Glenelg Country Day School, the school Atterbeary's children attend, I see no mention of any Sex and Health Education Framework that forces students to learn about gender ideology in Kindergarten or any grade. I also don't see any mention of lessons on sexual orientation. They do have a Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
This seems odd given the school's selective acceptance rate of 70%. The national average is 85%. One wonders what keeps that other 15% from being admitted and INCLUDED. Perhaps their parents are not wealthy public officials.
Glenelg Country School (Top Ranked Private School for 2025) - Ellicott City, MD
But I guess when you can afford to send not one, not two but three of your children to that school, you don't have to worry about protecting their innocence by demanding your parental rights. Most private schools listen to the parents of their students and are careful not to trample on their rights. That's what money gets you.
The rest of the parents in Maryland, those who aren't wealthy and influential like Atterbeary, can't afford expensive, elite private schools. Those parents don't have that option..
Shameful. And hypocritical.
From the Baltimore Sun:
“The purpose of that framework is to make sure that all of our children feel included when they attend school. To make sure that they feel represented,” Atterbeary said of the existing standards. “Quite frankly, everyone’s doing a good job except … Carroll County.”
The family life and human sexuality curriculum in Carroll County excludes gender identity, even though educators are supposed to teach it under the existing health education framework. Instead, the county offers options for students to either learn the state curriculum, study the curriculum passed by the county’s Family Life Advisory Board, or completely opt out of the family life curriculum.
Atterbeary said on the floor Tuesday that 35% of Carroll County elementary school parents opted for the statewide curriculum, 42% chose the county framework, 8% did not have their children learn the curriculum and 15% did not respond.
It's a shame that 50% of the elementary parents in Carroll County don't get the right or courtesy to "feel included" in the decisions about what their children learn because of Atterbeary and her Democrat supporters.
House Democrats condoned her actions. They passed her bill along party lines.
Fortunately, the Maryland Legislature has two bodies that must approve all laws that are passed. Atterbeary's bill will now go to the Senate. Senators must respect the rights of all parents, support local control, and vote against it.
Although Delegate Atterbeary thinks she rules the House of Delegates, the Senate is a different story.
ADDITIONAL INFO REGARDING ATTERBEARY:
We have had many people contact us about Delegate Atterbeary and how she has stretched the truth regarding bills she was supporting:
Here is video from 2023 in a hearing over a similar bill to HB 161. It did not pass in the Senate.
(42) W&M Committee Session, 2/1/2023 #1 - YouTube
Here are some time markers for some comments by Chairman Atterbeary that were untrue:
LIE #1~4:15: ‘' I have received…quite a few emails that, in my opinion, contain a lot of misinformation about what this bill actually does. The emails that I have received state…this bill overrides local control for the school boards. This bill does not do that.”
TRUTH: That was exactly what it was intended to do.
LIE #2~6:40 "this bill will provide teachers that will give the students accurate and medically correct information"
TRUTH: The bill last year and this year had NOTHING to do with training teachers or providing teachers who can teach gender ideology or sexual orientation correctly.
BLOCKING PUBLIC TESTIMONY: Atterbeary, who is Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, has insisted on limiting public comment in front of her committee on bills. Whether people can testify in person is usually limited by whether the Delegate and her party thinks they will get pushback on passing a bill OR if the bill in consideration is presented by a colleague Atterbeary doesn't like. She also limits in person testimony for bills she doesn't like. Here's an editorial from the Baltimore Sun regarding committees adopting this tactic:
The public deserves a greater voice in Maryland's legislative process
Atterbeary has told people it takes too much time to hear citizen input. That's a disgusting take from someone who claims to serve the people of Howard County and Maryland. Maybe she has more important things to do.
