Take Action

MN Legislative Issues and Bills 2021

Please use the following legislative update to contact your legislators. The information includes the bill numbers and whether CPL supports or opposes the bill and why. Distribute the information to your family, friends and within your spheres of influence. HF=House file; SF=Senate file. Find your legislators at Who represents me?
CPLAction Legislative Update 2021 flyer (PDF)

EDUCATION

➤ Obscenity Exemption

Support HF232
This bill removes the K-12 school exemption to the MN obscenity statute. The exemption currently permits schools to use obscene materials if they are considered “educational.” This bill would remove the school exemption and entitle parents to file civil lawsuits and recover damages for displaying and disseminating obscene material which is deemed harmful to minors according to statute.

MS 617.291 Section 1, subdivision 2: “It is in the best interest of the health, welfare, and safety of minors that dissemination of sexually explicit written, photographic, printed, sound or published material are deemed harmful to minors.”

More details about Obscenity Laws

➤ Require School Databases Services Block Access to Porn

Support HF467 and SF1016
Parents, legislators and most school board members are unaware of how easily students can access porn and obscenity through their laptops and chrome books. This bill requires K-12 school online research database services to BLOCK access to porn and other obscene materials as defined in MN statute. Most K-12 schools use the MN eLibrary (ELM) that use databases such as EBSCO and GALE. These databases link to porn and obscenity on their platforms bypassing school filters. Only the database provider can filter content. This bill also states that database providers who fail to BLOCK this access constitute a breach of contract and payment for their services can be withheld.

• Update: CPL Investigates EBSCO Database Ed Tech Products (14 minute video)
• Update: CPL Investigates Gale School Database Ed Tech Products (15 minute video)
• CPL Investigates MN eLibrary and EBSCO (35 minute video)

➤ Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE)

Oppose HF358 AND SF632
This is the same legislation passed by the MN House (HF1414) in 2019 which mandated comprehensive sex education (CSE) in every MN K-12 public/charter school. CSE removes all natural and protective boundaries for children and teens, encouraging early sexual exploration in graphic detail. CSE uses pornographic illustrations and graphic descriptions to teach children as young as 10 that all ‘consensual’ sexual activity is their right. It also normalizes all gender identities and permits unlicensed organizations such as Planned Parenthood (PP) into the classroom. PP already teaches 4th graders that oral, anal, and vaginal sex are “normal” as is masturbation alone or with others.
References:

• CPLA public testimony in opposition to HF358 to the House Preventive Health Division Committee February 24, 2021 (PDF)
• CPLA public testimony in opposition to HF358 to the House Education Policy Committee, February 10, 2021
• Stop Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE)
• Obscenity Laws

➤ Constitutional Amendment for Education

Oppose HF874
This bill has hidden agendas that basically hands over much of the authority over education from the legislature to the state which includes departments of the executive branch and the courts. In our Republic, the legislature determines policy, not the executive or judicial branches. This bill essentially extends MN state government constitutional authority over education of “all children;” requires state to adopt “uniform achievement standards” to define “quality” for all children.

Please read more details about this dangerous bill in CPLAction Testimony Against HF874 (PDF)

This bill was introduced last legislative session as SF3977. The language of the bill remains the same.
Refer to our What is This Bill About? Handout (PDF) from 2020.

PROTECTION FOR WOMEN AND CHILDREN

➤ Equal Rights Amendment

Oppose HF726, HF727 AND SF342
This bill is presented as an “equal rights” constitutional amendment but would recognize an unlimited number of gender identities, including no gender and gender fluidity. Gender would no longer have a fixed definition; erasing the meaning of male and female. It would affect family law, adoption law, health law, athletic policies, public and private spaces across all civic, corporate, private, educational and religious organizations by enshrining all gender identities as equal under the law. There would be NO EXCEPTIONS to a new constitutional right. It would especially erase the bodily privacy and physical safety of women and children by giving biological males the ‘right’ to invade their locker rooms, showers, bathrooms, sports, and dressing rooms.

The question that will be submitted to the people for a vote shall be “Equal Rights Amendment,” however; it isn’t equal rights for women. In reality, it is a “Gender Spectrum Equality Amendment.”

• The Equal Rights Constitutional Amendment (ERA)

➤ Stricter Penalties for Trafficking In Child Sexual Abuse Imagery

HF229, HF226 and SF1826
This legislation is what CPL had termed “Protect Minnesota’s Kids Act.”

These bills would adopt tougher sentencing guidelines and identify predatory offenders who are convicted of possessing, disseminating and trading online materials that depict the violent abuse, torture and rape of young children-even toddlers. 55% of predators in possession of these kinds of violent images and videos may also be an active “contact offender.” Currently in MN, through a ‘stay of adjudication,’ about 85% of persons convicted of trafficking in child sexual abuse images receive probation, no prison time, no identification as a sexual predator and no record of criminal offense.

HF229 and HF226 mirror federal penalties for production, distribution, receipt and possession of child sexual abuse imagery, registration as predatory offenders and makes their criminal histories accessible to the public. These bills give law enforcement officers more resources to combat child predators; especially those who are trading these images online. HF229 also creates a new crime of “receipt” carrying the same penalties as “dissemination” which adopts the federal standards.

Prioritize Protecting Children!
Some are opposing HF229 and HF226 based upon cost. This is unacceptable! It is estimated that 55% of predators in possession of violent child abuse imagery and videos are also “contact offenders” meaning they are actively abusing children at the same time. Hold legislators accountable on this very important issue!

Equip yourself with all the details:

• Why You Should Support HF226 & HF229 (35 minute video)
  Presentation by Will Krumholz
• Protect Minnesota’s Kids Act
• Downloadable Flyer (PDF)

➤ Defining Male and Female

Support HF1647
The proposed bill would define “male” as a person with XY sex chromosomes and “female” as a person with XX sex chromosomes and prohibits male students from participating in elementary, high school, and post-secondary female-only sports teams. It requires restrooms, locker rooms, dressing rooms, shower rooms, and any other facility or setting where a student may be in a state of undress to be designated female only or male only. Violators would be guilty of a petty misdemeanor.

---

➤ Legislative History

CPL Focused MN Legislation 2020

• Constitutional Amendment SF 3977 (House file 3658)
• Mandated Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE)
• Drag Queen Story Hour HF4323
• Gender Identity Proposal, MN Department of Education

MN Legislative Issues and Bills 2019

• Mandated Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE)
• School Safety Technical Assistance Center (SSTAC)
• Great Start for All Minnesota Children Act
• Conversion Therapy Ban
• ERA Constitutional Amendment

Racial Quotas in School Policies

The Dayton administration has initiated its own racial equity directive that the Federal Commission has rescinded. In October of 2017, the MN Department of Human Rights (MDHR) sent a letter to 43 school districts informing them that they have a “racial discipline disparity” in violation of the MN Human Rights Act. Unless they entered into a “settlement agreement” with the state, they would file charges and investigate them for civil rights violations. Minnesota is full steam ahead implementing the racial quotas in school discipline in schools throughout the state. Read more at Minnesota Goes Full Radical on Race Based School Discipline

TAKE ACTION:

• Find your board’s “Collaborative Agreement”. If you are in one of the targeted districts, ask your school board to see the “plan” that they submitted and was approved by the state. Know what your district is doing! MDHR Website
• If you are in one of the targeted districts, contact your school board members to express your displeasure over their transferring your local district’s discipline policy authority to the state. Express your displeasure over signing an agreement that assumes that all whites are racist and that discipline policies must be viewed through the lens of race.
• Engage personally with your local House and Senate legislators. Tell them to put a stop to this travesty. Make this a campaign issue for 2020, starting now.
• If you have children in school, engage with them about how wrong it is for students to be shamed for being white or for being any race at all. Ask them to share with you how discipline is being handled and what training or curriculum they are receiving regarding race. Protect your kids.

The “Toolkit” – Take Action!

The Toolkit to Ensure Safe and Supportive Schools for Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students was passed July 19, 2017 by an unelected, governor appointed Minnesota Department of Education committee, despite strong opposition from parents and the public. This gender ideology “Toolkit” does not promote the safety and well-being of children but is actually harmful to ALL children.

It’s not too late to Take Action! You CAN make a difference. Go to The “Toolkit” Agenda for action items.

Quick Reference:
Order the CPL Transgender Toolkit Packet
Toolkit Fact Sheet (PDF)
Toolkit Petition (PDF)

Questions for Schools About Transgender Policies & Practices

Find in the article questions that that every taxpayer should ask their local school administrators, including the administrators of elementary and middle schools. Then follow up by requesting to the school board that the policy be written mandating that restrooms and locker rooms correspond to objective biological sex. The specificity of the questions is necessary in order to ensure that accurate information is obtained, to make explicit the assumptions embedded in oppositions to restroom/locker room practices and to prevent administrators from obfuscating. More helpful information can be found in our Gender and Privacy Policies and Gender Identity.

Is Your Child Unsafe at the Doctor’s Office? Invasive Teen Questionnaire

A new HealthPartner’s policy is being implemented that requires clinicians to administer a 23-question health questionnaire to all pre-teens and teens… and it is to be answered only by the adolescent. After the adolescent fills out the questionnaire, the parent will then be asked to leave the child alone with the clinician so the clinician can engage the child “one-on-one” about the answers and personal concerns. We have questions! Read the details in Is Your Child Unsafe at the Doctor’s Office? and review the Questionnaire (PDF)

 

Action Steps Parents Can Take

1. If your family uses a HealthPartners clinic or any clinic that participates in this kind of survey, respond to the letter you receive with a letter of your own.
   a. Forbid the clinic from holding a private meeting with your child and a clinician.
   b. Direct them to put your letter into your family’s health record files.
   c. Demand that they discontinue the use of this outrageous questionnaire.
2. Refuse to have your child fill out the questionnaire or meet privately with a clinician. This is your right as a parent!
3. Contact your legislators. Ask them to clarify into law that health providers:
   • May not impose themselves on families with personal, invasive questionnaires
   • Have no right to digitally store private data discovered about your child’s personal beliefs, feelings or family—unless it involves mandated legal reporting.
   • Must pro-actively inform parents that they and their child have a right to refuse to allow their minor child to meet alone with a clinician.
4. Request a list of the health provider’s LGBTQIA resources. Please send your findings to Child Protection League at contact@cplaction.com.

Drag Queen Story Hour Exposed

Child Protection League and hundreds of thousands of parents and citizens exposed the library Drag Queen Story Hours. Child Protection League Action’s Facebook post (over 658,000 views as of this writing) went viral overnight and was picked up by numerous national news outlets. Libraries Violate Public Trust with Drag Queen Story Hours

We are calling upon local libraries and the American Library Association (ALA) to end the Drag Queen Story Hour permanently. Under no circumstances should adult erotic performers be allowed to influence and interact with innocent and impressionable children using public funds and buildings. 21,460 Attend Library Conference Featuring Workshops on Drag Queen and Queering Elementary Schools

Ways to Get Involved

The following are ways that you can keep this momentum going to stop Drag Queens from being allowed to read LGBT+ and transgender books to our youngest children.

• Watch Drag Queen Story Hour (22 minutes)
  presentation by Barb Anderson
• Find out if your library has hosted Drag Queen Story Hours.
  Contact the library directors, the library board members as well as the American Library Association (ALA) with your concerns.
• Submit a letter to the editor.
  Example: What is going on in our public libraries?
• Inform your legislative candidates.
  Find out if they can tell you why publicly funded libraries are no longer a safe place for children!
• Apply to serve on the library board.
  Example: In Hennepin County MN, applications are being taken for library board members until December 31. Interviews and appointments are decided by the Hennepin County Commissioners.
  Sample: Testimony Before Hennepin Library Committee (PDF)

The Church and Politics: What Ministers and Churches Can Do to Affect Public Policy (PDF)

Church leaders who want to educate their members about civic issues, particular legislation and viewpoints, may be receiving false information from activist groups who are attempting to silence them with threats of losing tax-exempt status. Equip your church leaders with this important legal background from The Pacific Justice Institute.

CPL Sponsored Books for Children

Story Time with Miss Barbara

Join Miss Barbara as she reads story books that will delight young children including two of her own publications. Access 24/7 on demand!

I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty (3 ½ minutes video)

He Bear, She Bear by Stan and Jan Berenstain (4 minutes video)

The Little Red Hen by Paul Galdone (4 minutes video)

You are in for a treat! The following two books are written and read by Miss Barbara (Barbara Anderson, CPL board member) and illustrated by Rachel Gasper (daughter of our CPL board member Bonnie Gasper).

Just Ducky (6 minute video) – Written by Miss Barbara, this heart-warming duck tale features adorably illustrated barnyard friends of Little Ducky who learns to appreciate the way he was made.

What readers have said about Just Ducky:

“This is without question one of the best picture books conveying a much-needed message: Love your body and be who you were created to be!” Michelle Cretella, MD, Executive Director of the American College of Pediatricians

“What a beautifully written book. I love the story line and meaning behind who you were created to be. It speaks to many levels!” Ashley

“It is adorable and the illustrations are perfect for a small child–clear, concise, and bright, happy colors. As a grandparent, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for this clear, inspiring message for our children and their families.” Carole

I love it. It is beautifully done, and gets the message across in a clear and persuasive way. Michelle

The (Mostly) True Story of Taylor Swine the Political Pig (6 minute video)
An adorable story about a real pet pig! This story stars a lovable pig whose journey to fulfill her dream leads her to a caring family that understands her wish to become a political pig. Taylor Swine discovers the importance of family while learning how to take an active role in the political process.

Order Now!
Miss Barbara’s two delightful books make for great reading and fun gifts. All proceeds go toward the work of CPL. Order one for your child or grandchild today!

• Order from our CPL Store
• Order from Amazon: Just Ducky or Taylor Swine
  Choose Child Protection League at AmazonSmile and CPL receives a donation from Amazon for each purchase!

 

Books We Recommend

The Invincible Family
Why the Global Campaign to Crush Motherhood and Fatherhood Can’t Win

by Kimberly Ells

The Invincible Family is a shocking and essential report on how your family could be threatened–and what you and all concerned citizens can do to defend the institution of the family and our inherent human rights. Special Donation offer. Check it out!

Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Porn-Proofing Today’s Young Kids

by Kristen A Jenson and Debbie Fox

Have you wanted to talk to your children about pornography but weren’t sure how? Good Pictures Bad Pictures is a great resource to read to your children to start the discussion.

The War on Psychotherapy: When Sexual Politics, Gender Ideology and Mental Health Collide

by Christopher Doyle, MA, LPC, LCPC
Forward by Michael Brown, Ph.D and Preface by Dr Cretella, MD, FCP

What happens when a sexual culture war is fought on the mental health battlefield? Christopher Doyle provides a map of the unprecedented assault on personal freedom and religious liberty answering many of tough questions of our day.

Video presentation The War on Psychotherapy from The Witherspoon Fellowship (50 minutes)

You’re Teaching My Child What?
By Miriam Gossman, M.D.
available in the CPL Store

“Dr. Grossman exposes the sordid truth about sex education – not based based on science but on liberal lies and politically correct propaganda. As a psychiatrist and expert on sexual education, Dr. Grossman cites example after example of schools and organizations whitewashing crucial information that doesn’t fit in with their “PC” agenda. What sex educators call an education, scientists would call a scam.

Stolen Honor, Stolen Innocence
By Dr. Judith Reisman
available in the CPL Store

How America was betrayed by the lies and sexual crimes of the mad “scientist”. The root cause of many of the societal ills we deal with today come from Alfred Kinsey and his “research”.
Note: Add the image for this book

Paper Genders

by Walt Heyer

Written by a former transgender, the book in his own story, debunks the glowing promises of gender change surgery and exposes the heart-breaking story of suicide and wrecked lives that the advocates would prefer to keep hidden.

Sex: The Rest of the Story

By LeAnna Benn and Alfred J Derby, MD

Comprehensive Sexual Education is damaging our most valuable resource—children. You will want this ebook as a reference guide. Using peer reviewed scientific studies, this activist’s guide to transforming sex education provides guidance to prepare for meetings, writing letters campaigns, organizing community members to take action, getting programs adopted and so much more. A must for your library!

New Research Reveals that Babies Need Their Moms

By Erica Komisar
An informative book about the importance of the mother-child bond entitled Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters. Read the Book Review (PDF) and share the information with others.

Books With Warnings!

Something Happened in Our Town

This book written by Marianne Celano demonizes the police department and suggests that children should be afraid of police officers. Stereotyping police officers as biased and dangerous puts people of all races at great risk and undermines the ability of law enforcement to protect us all. The book is being recommended for elementary age children in many school districts in MN as well as in other states. Find out if this book is being used in your elementary schools and, if so, contact your school boards, education departments and governor to stop the book from being used in the classroom.

Read Something Happened in Our Town (PDF) book review.

I Am Jazz

“The book I Am Jazz, by Jazz Jennings and Jessica Herthel, contains a number of factual inaccuracies and very significant omissions. I am very concerned that children or even adults who read these books will be given false ideas about transgenderism. This will lead to the harm of children.”
An Endocrinologist Studies The Transgender Movement’s Most Popular Kid’s Book

Social Justice Books

A dangerous ideology to transform the beliefs and values of our nation is invading our nation’s classrooms through intentional literary choices. Even though social justice books are often presented as merely multi-racial materials and diverse histories, the primary focus is to transform our schools and our culture.

Social Justice Books Teaching Revolution Through Literature
Samples of Social Justice Books

Advocating for Islam?

These eight books, recommended to teachers for Minnesota public schools at the “Engaging Muslim Students in Public Schools” Training Seminars for Educators 2017 presented by Michael Abraham, teach the religion of Islam including prayer, religious holidays, reciting the Holy Books, etc.
Read the Book Review of Islamic Children’s Books (PDF) and stay informed.

Cosmo Hurts Kids

The Cosmopolitan magazine sold at most store checkouts is pornographic and violates states’ “materials harmful to minors laws.” It should not be sold to kids! Learn more at Cosmo Hurts Kids.

Eleanor & Park
by Rainbow Rowell

Parents of a 15 year old high school girl were astounded to read through the book Eleanor & Park, a book their daughter was given as part of her high school’s summer reading program. “The amount of vile profanity used throughout this publication was absolutely astounding! Never in our 43 years have either of us ever read anything more profane.”

Read this extensive review of Eleanor & Park to help you learn what the schools are using for young adult reading. The New York Times calls it a “beautiful, haunting love story” for young adults. The parents say the book is “pornographic and sexually explicit.” Be advised.
Eleanor & Park Review (PDF)